Closer to home...
After the PM’s trip to the Middle East failed to secure an increase in oil and gas production from the only people with the spare capacity to help, the government needs to look closer to home.
The UK has some of the worst insulated homes in Europe, a total waste of energy and money. But the Tory government basically closed down a national insulation scheme during the austerity years.
If the PM wants to know what to do he should spend less time in the Middle East and more in Copenhagen. I went there years ago to report on just this issue and even then, in 2008 or so, the Danes had a massive head start and they must be miles ahead by now.
They simply increase the environmental standards for new build housing year after year. When I visited walls were feet thick, windows treble glazed, roof space unusable because it was totally filled with insulation. There were two water systems one using rain water from the roof to operate washing machines and dish washers, the other for drinking water.
Older housing was retro-fitted, heating was supplied by spare heat from power stations etc etc
It is not difficult, the house builders will claim it forces up house prices, which is rubbish. The cost is minuscule compared with the cost of land, the savings on heating bills huge and permanent.
Ten wasted years and the UK now realises it is too dependent on foreign fuel and has a very simple way of hitting its carbon targets.
The damage done by the economically illiterate policy of austerity is only now beginning to be seen.
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.