Consumers need not foot bill for tackling climate change

If Lord Turner and his committee believe tackling climate change will worsen fuel poverty (your report, 2 December), then they're doing it wrong.

For example, the Scottish Greens' proposal for this year's Holyrood budget, (Inside Holyrood, 1 December) would provide an additional 100 million a year for insulation, free to everyone, and support other home energy efficiency measures. This is the cheapest way to beat fuel poverty, cut bills and tackle climate change at the same time, and it would boost jobs and

improve our health. A similar scheme

introduced by Green councillors in

Kirklees repaid the local authority's

investment in just two years.

In the longer term, domestic energy costs can be held down only if we break the link with volatile fossil fuel prices. As oil and gas production continues to decline, the costs will inevitably rise in the long term, even if economic chaos keeps prices low for a while. The wind and waves which are Scotland's blessing in disguise will only get cheaper to take energy from as the technology develops.

Anyone who believes Scots in fuel poverty should foot the cost of installing these renewables is, again, doing it wrong.

PATRICK HARVIE MSP

Scottish Parliament