The Climate Change Advisory Council has written to the three party leaders in Government to highlight its concern that short term measures to mitigate the energy price shocks - such as temporary cuts in excise duties could be taken without regard to climate objectives.
In the letter, the Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council, Marie Donnelly, warned global instability in the energy markets may last a long time.
Because of this she said the Government response needs to take a long-term perspective and focus on alleviating the burden on those already in fuel poverty.
She noted that ESRI research has found that high income households account for most of the cost to the exchequer of recent measures and said the Council recommends that any subsequent policy measures in relation to fuel excise duty are better focused and more targeted on those in challenging circumstances, fuel poverty and with low incomes.
In line with demands from Wind Industry representatives earlier today, the Climate Change Advisory Council also called for urgent and strong political support to ensure that new renewable generation can become operational as soon as possible.
It said that lengthy and delayed planning timelines are currently impeding development of critical electricity grid infrastructure and renewable projects and that this needs to be addressed as a matter of priority.
The Climate Change Advisory Council is also concerned that the current timelines for delivery of core measures in the Climate Action Plan are too long and the procedures to facilitate the delivery of these measures are not progressing fast enough.
It calls for an accelerated and strategic approach to decarbonising the electricity sector and says escalating the clean energy transition in heating and transport will reduce our fossil fuel dependence while also helping to achieve climate targets.
"There are a number of policy areas where progress is being made including the National Retrofitting Scheme, the Micro-generation Support Scheme and the planning legislation review, all of which will play an important part in achieving our climate action objectives," Ms Donnelly said.
"However, current timelines for the delivery of core measures within the Climate Action Plan are too long and the procedures to facilitate the delivery of these measures are not progressing fast enough.
"An accelerated and strategic approach to the decarbonisation of the electricity sector and escalating the clean energy transition in heating and transport will be crucial to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and helping us achieve our climate targets.
"I would urge all of government and the public to support the delivery of that ambition," she added.
