Posted on Sep 22, 2023
Rishi Sunak defends U.K. climate policy U-turn amid international criticism
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https://www.npr.org/2023/09/22/ [login to see] /rishi-sunak-uk-climate-policy-changes
Amid growing international criticism, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has defended watering down key U.K. climate policies.
In a press conference Wednesday, Sunak announced a series of major U-turns on climate policies, including delaying by five years the target to ban sales of new gas and diesel cars — which will now come into force in 2035 rather than 2030 — and a nine-year delay on phasing out gas boilers, which will now come into force in 2035.
Sunak insisted he was not slowing down efforts to combat climate change. But his government's own climate adviser called the prime minister's assertion that the U.K. would still succeed in meeting its 2050 net-zero target "wishful thinking."
Amid growing international criticism, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has defended watering down key U.K. climate policies.
In a press conference Wednesday, Sunak announced a series of major U-turns on climate policies, including delaying by five years the target to ban sales of new gas and diesel cars — which will now come into force in 2035 rather than 2030 — and a nine-year delay on phasing out gas boilers, which will now come into force in 2035.
Sunak insisted he was not slowing down efforts to combat climate change. But his government's own climate adviser called the prime minister's assertion that the U.K. would still succeed in meeting its 2050 net-zero target "wishful thinking."
Rishi Sunak defends U.K. climate policy U-turn amid international criticism
Posted from npr.org
Climate Change
United Kingdom
Conservative
Posted 7 mo ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Criticism at home and abroad
Sunak's overhaul of his green targets has been met with criticism at home and internationally.
Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore described the changes as "shocking and disappointing" and "not what the world needs from the United Kingdom."
Some in the prime minister's own Conservative Party warned that the changes risk damaging Britain's reputation as a global leader on the climate.
Sunak decided not to attend the United Nations Climate Summit in New York this week, making him the first British prime minister to miss a U.N. General Assembly in a decade.
Former Conservative minister Alok Sharma, who chaired the 2021 COP26 U.N. Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, told the BBC Wednesday's announcement had been met with "consternation" from international colleagues.
"My concern is whether people now look to us and say, 'Well, if the U.K. is starting to row back on some of these policies, maybe we should do the same,'" he said.
In the U.K., Sunak's announcement prompted a backlash from climate activists, car manufacturers and the energy industry.
In a statement, U.K. Ford chair Lisa Brankin said, "Our business needs three things from the U.K. government: ambition, commitment and consistency. A relaxation of 2030 would undermine all three."
And the chief executive of one of Britain's largest energy suppliers, Eon UK, said the move was a "misstep on many levels.""...
..."Criticism at home and abroad
Sunak's overhaul of his green targets has been met with criticism at home and internationally.
Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore described the changes as "shocking and disappointing" and "not what the world needs from the United Kingdom."
Some in the prime minister's own Conservative Party warned that the changes risk damaging Britain's reputation as a global leader on the climate.
Sunak decided not to attend the United Nations Climate Summit in New York this week, making him the first British prime minister to miss a U.N. General Assembly in a decade.
Former Conservative minister Alok Sharma, who chaired the 2021 COP26 U.N. Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, told the BBC Wednesday's announcement had been met with "consternation" from international colleagues.
"My concern is whether people now look to us and say, 'Well, if the U.K. is starting to row back on some of these policies, maybe we should do the same,'" he said.
In the U.K., Sunak's announcement prompted a backlash from climate activists, car manufacturers and the energy industry.
In a statement, U.K. Ford chair Lisa Brankin said, "Our business needs three things from the U.K. government: ambition, commitment and consistency. A relaxation of 2030 would undermine all three."
And the chief executive of one of Britain's largest energy suppliers, Eon UK, said the move was a "misstep on many levels.""...
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