2023-09-20 09:43:04
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was preparing to ease some of Britain’s climate commitments, arguing that the country must combat climate change without penalizing workers and consumers.
The news sparked widespread criticism from political rivals, environmental groups and much of British industry, although it was welcomed by sections of the country’s ruling Conservative Party.
Sunak issued a statement on Tuesday night in response to a BBC report that the prime minister was considering extending the deadline for banning new petrol and diesel cars, which is now scheduled for 2030, and the limit on new installations of home heating with natural gas, set for 2035.
The president said that this week he will present a “proportionate” environmental strategy in a speech. He did not specify the date of the speech, which might take place as early as Wednesday.
“For too many years, politicians in governments of all stripes have not been honest regarding costs and consequences,” Sunak said in a statement. “Instead, they have taken the easy way out, saying we can have it all.”
Sunak did not confirm the details of his announcement. He said he would keep the promise to reduce net emissions to zero by 2050, but “in a better, more proportionate way”.
The government had previously boasted of Britain’s leading position in reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions in the country have fallen by 46% from 1990 levels, mainly due to the near-complete elimination of coal in power generation. The government had promised to reduce emissions by 68% compared to 1990 levels by 2030 and achieve greenhouse gas emissions neutrality by 2050.
But with just seven years to go until that first deadline, the government’s climate advisers said last month that the pace of progress was “worryingly slow.”
The news regarding the review of objectives coincided with the United Nations General Assembly being held these days in New York, which is attended by high-level British politicians – including the heir to the throne of England, Prince William – and from around the world. world, and where the climate is one of the priority issues. Sunak was not planning to attend the summit and sent his number two in his place.
Greenpeace Britain policy director Doug Parr said the prime minister was “playing people for fools”.
“Rolling back on home insulation and commitments to help people get off gas will ensure we remain at the mercy of volatile fossil fuels and exploitative energy companies,” Parr said.
For their part, automakers, which have invested heavily in the transition to electric vehicles, expressed frustration at the government’s change in plans.
“We are wondering what the strategy is here, because we need to move road transport mobility away from fossil fuels towards sustainable transport,” said Mike Hawes, director general of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders industry group.
Ford Britain chief Lisa Brankin said the firm had invested 430 million pounds ($530 million) to make electric cars in Britain.
“Our business needs three things from the British government: ambition, commitment and consistency. Relaxing (the target) of 2030 would undermine all three,” he stated.
Britain’s Conservatives have spoken openly that they were reviewing their climate change commitments, following an extraordinary election in July that was widely interpreted as voters rejecting a tax on the most polluting cars.
The party, which trails the Labor opposition in polls across the country, unexpectedly won the seat for the suburban London borough of Uxbridge by focusing on a divisive tax on older vehicles introduced by London mayor Sadiq Sadiq. Khan. Some conservatives believe repealing environmental policies will give them votes that can help the party avoid defeat in national elections scheduled for late next year.
“We are not going to save the planet by ruining the British people,” Home Secretary Suella Braverman said on Wednesday.
But Conservative MP Alok Sharma, who chaired the COP26 international climate conference in Glasgow in 2021, warned that softening climate targets would be “incredibly damaging for business confidence, for domestic investment”.
“And frankly, I don’t think it’s going to help electorally any political party that decides to follow this path,” he told the BBC.
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