15th February 2022, 9am
Insulate Britain announced today that we have joined Just Stop Oil – a coalition of groups working together to demand that the government immediately halt all future licensing and consents for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels in the UK.
While the government approves new oilfields, airports and coal mines and BP, Shell and other energy companies announce billions in profit, ordinary people are experiencing the worst cost of living crisis in living memory.
This crisis, which is driven by sharp increases in the cost of energy and food, will kill those in poverty. The standard of living for millions of us will decrease, for some people that may mean buying a £5 bottle of wine over a £10 one or forgoing that trip to the cinema, but for those of us already experiencing poverty this is gameover. It means no heating, no eating, no health, no home.
There is no doubt that cheap fossil fuels have generated enormous benefits for the economy and society over the last few hundred years, but fossil fuel extraction is proving to be more and more costly. The whole world, including the UK, must urgently end our reliance on fossil fuel energy. We cannot afford to burn all the reserves of oil and gas that have been discovered and maintain a habitable place to live in. We are facing catastrophic warming and the complete collapse of our society within a few decades.
We cannot transition away from oil towards clean energy as rapidly as we should unless the government Insulates Britain and starts to make reducing energy demand and improving energy efficiency a focus for the entire nation. It is for that reason that we are entering into this coalition. If we do not work together, we will die together.
We need to Just Stop Oil. We need to Insulate Britain. We need free transport. So let’s get on with the job and Just Do It!
ENDS
Press contact: 07737 457105
Email: insulatebritainpress@protonmail.com
High quality photos and video footage available here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Kucq-NfhnZLGJWwLx1HX03cWR7M9Y2-m
Website: https://www.insulatebritain.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insulatebritain
Twitter: https://twitter.com/insulatelove
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8N5mAeeCLbD-AFUqtPaF0g
Notes to Editors
[1] Insulate Britain understands that there will be a day of civil resistance on the M25 on Saturday 19th February at midday inspired by our campaign. The event named ‘RAVE ON THE M25’ has been arranged in response to public outrage at the Cost of Living Crisis and our government’s seeming inability to lead with integrity and responsibility in times of crisis. We are aware some Insulate Britain Supporters will be in attendance. More info here: https://fb.me/e/1mohQgaY1
[2] As OFGEM announced energy prices would rise 54% last Thursday 5 people from Insulate Britain were sentenced to between 24 – 42 days in prison in the High Court for asking the government to ensure we can heat our homes using less energy last year. One of the 5, Ben Taylor received an additional sentence of 32 days despite already being in prison for nearly 3 months on a 6 month sentence. https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/price-cap-increase-ps693-april
[3] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-60196439
[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lzPy_nh_KU (1:16)
[5] About Insulate Britain
Insulate Britain is a new campaign group that is calling on the UK government to put in place policy and funding for a national home insulation programme starting with all social housing.
We demand the Prime Minister and the government to #getonwiththejob, face up to their responsibility and lead our country through the climate crisis.
We are ordinary British citizens with simple and achievable demands to #INSULATEBRITAIN
The UK government must immediately promise to fully fund and take responsibility for the insulation of all social housing in Britain.
We demand a national home insulation strategy that gives British people the justice they deserve: a future for our loved ones, lower energy bills and safer living conditions.
We are scared: our livelihoods are at risk and the futures of our children are uncertain
The Climate Crisis is a threat to all: we demand the government to act now.
Our Demands
1. That the UK government immediately promises to fully fund and take responsibility for the insulation of all social housing in Britain by 2025;
2. That the UK government immediately promises to produce within four months a legally binding national plan to fully fund and take responsibility for the full low-energy and low-carbon whole-house retrofit , with no externalised costs, of all homes in Britain by 2030 as part of a just transition to full decarbonisation of all parts of society and the economy.
Further information about Insulate Britain and our demands here: https://www.insulatebritain.com/
Technical Report on home energy efficiency here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jt5FI-kinEXoqZtPDrCvnAVQ2EFn8Aea/view
Insulate Britain ‘Blue Lights’ policy: our policy is, and has always been to move out of the way for emergency vehicles with ‘blue lights’ on.