Caroline joined green campaigners and a solar-powered hot air balloon outside Parliament to show her support for clean, green heat for businesses and homes today.

Caroline is calling on the Government to honour its promise to bring in a Renewable Heat Incentive that would encourage people to switch to planet-friendly heating.

During the last Government, all parties pledged to introduce this incentive in April 2011, but now reports suggest it could be delayed or watered down in the 20 October spending review.

Delay is already damaging the UK's infant renewable heat industry as a lack of strong Government commitment makes potential investors nervous.

Caroline said, "Heating our homes and businesses shouldn't heat the planet - encouraging clean, green heat is essential if we're to cut climate-changing carbon emissions.

"I'm backing a Renewable Heat Incentive that will create jobs and help people save money on fuel bills."

Friends of the Earth's Renewable Energy Advisor Alan Simpson said, "It's great that MPs like Caroline Lucas are supporting the switch to planet-friendly ways of heating our homes and workplaces.

"The Government must prove its claim to be the greenest ever is not just hot air, and introduce the Renewable Heat Incentive as promised."

Paul Monaghan, Head of Social Goals and Sustainability at The Co-operative Group said, "As a business that is working hard to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, we require clarity and consistency of support.

"We urge the government not to water down proposals for the Renewable Heat Incentive in the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review."

Key facts:

• Heating is responsible for almost half [47 per cent] of the UK's climate-changing emissions, mostly from heating rooms and water in homes and workplaces.

• The Renewable Heat Incentive could cut carbon emissions by 60 million tonnes in a decade - that's the equivalent of taking almost 2.5 million cars off the road every year for ten years.

• The UK is committed to producing 12 per cent of heat from renewable sources by 2020 - it is currently just 1 per cent.

Notes  

For more information please contact Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670.

1. The full list of 17 organisations calling on the Government to honour plans to introduce the Renewable Heat Incentive is: Renewable Energy Association, Friends of the Earth, Compass, The Co-operative Group, Co-operatives UK, Country Land and Business Association, Federation of Master Builders, Federation of Small Businesses, Greenpeace UK, Micropower Council, National Farmers Union, The Premises Studios, Public and Commercial Services Union, Tony Juniper, Transform UK, Scientists for Global Responsibility, Worcester Bosch
2. For more information on the Renewable Heat Incentive see Friends of the Earth's briefing.
3. The 12 October event is sponsored by the Co-operative, and Worcester Bosch have also contributed to the campaign
4. The last Government, backed by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, committed to bring in a Renewable Heat Incentive by April 2011, which would pay people and businesses for the heat they generate from clean green sources such as solar thermal panels and ground source heat pumps.
5. Friends of the Earth believes the environment is for everyone. We want a healthy planet and a good quality of life for all those who live on it. We inspire people to act together for a thriving environment. We campaign on a range of issues including climate change, biodiversity, waste, transport and food. For further information visit www.foe.co.uk.