Housing Minister Margaret Beckett has set out the Government's proposals for making all new homes zero carbon from 2016.

More than 25% of the UK's carbon emissions are produced by our housing, and with the Government committed to reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, both existing and new homes must become more carbon efficient. The Government has already set out its plans to make all new homes zero carbon by 2016.

Ms Beckett said: "Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the world, and introducing zero carbon homes is an important part of our plans to tackle this, as well as further action to tackle emissions from the existing housing stock. I am absolutely committed to our 2016 target, and this demanding goal is already spurring action here and abroad.

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"With the consultation process we are launching today, we are confident we will be able to achieve our ambitions while giving the industry flexibility for how they get there."

Welcoming publication of the consultation, UK Green Building Council Chief Executive Paul King said: "The science on climate change tells us action is even more urgent than it was two years ago when the zero carbon target was first set. So Government should be congratulated for sticking by the commitment that all new homes will be zero carbon from 2016.

"UK-GBC has some strong views about what should and shouldn't be allowed to contribute to the definition of a zero carbon home. But as our task group report showed earlier in the year, these are very complex issues and there will be a lively debate over the coming months. The important thing is that, by the end of the process, we have an approach which is clear, provides certainty to all parties and retains the original environmental ambition underpinning it."

(CD/JM)