LONDON (Reuters) – Prime Minister Rishi Sunak watered down Britain’s commitments to tackle climate change on Wednesday, delaying targets for changing cars and domestic heating to maintain the consent of the British people in the switch to net zero.
Below is some reaction to his announcements:
STEPHANIE PFEIFER, CEO OF THE INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS GROUP ON CLIMATE CHANGE:
“The UK’s long-term, legally binding net zero commitments are not enough to provide investors with confidence if they are not supported by credible short and medium-term policies to deliver on them.”
“The government’s mixed signals on issues like electric vehicles and gas boilers create uncertainty that makes it harder for investors to factor climate considerations into their long-term investment decisions … the UK risks missing out on considerable investment if the government continues down its current path.”
PIERS FORSTER, CHAIR OF THE CLIMATE CHANGE COMMITTEE:
“We need go away and do the calculations, but today’s announcement is likely to take the UK further away from being able to meet its legal commitments. This, coupled with the recent unsuccessful offshore wind auction, gives us concern.”
ANDY MAYER, ENERGY ANALYST AT INSTITUTE OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS THINK TANK:
“Sunak’s Net Zero rebalance is a welcome step. Government policies like petrol and diesel car and gas boiler bans, have gone too far in hurting families and businesses for minimal environmental gain.”
“The solution to climate change is innovation and investment. This can be achieved by introducing carbon pricing, limiting regulatory interference and further removing planning barriers to deploying green technologies.”
CHRISTINA MCANEA, GENERAL SECRETARY OF TRADE UNION UNISON:
“There’ll be no winners from this. Rowing back on net zero goals could cost jobs, put up energy bills and damage the UK’s international reputation.”
“Reaching climate goals has to be a key priority, not a nice add-on when times are good. Investing in a green future creates jobs, grows the economy and brings longer-term savings.”
JESS RALSTON, ENERGY ANALYST AT THE ENERGY AND CLIMATE INTELLIGENCE UNIT:
“This looks chaotic and not the way long-term policy should be made around important issues, with emergency cabinet meetings and investors spooked.”
“The implication that any of these policies were going to affect the cost of living here and now is untrue. In fact, the PM has sided with landlords over renters, putting their energy bills and cost of living up by ducking the improvement of rules on energy efficiency.”
TANYA STEELE, WWF-UK CHIEF EXECUTIVE:
“Abandoning these targets and delaying action to get us to net zero is incoherent at a time when other countries are turbocharging their efforts to attract the industries and jobs of the future. The evidence couldn’t be any clearer that acting on net zero will be a net benefit to society and the economy.”
ED MILIBAND, OPPOSITION LABOUR PARTY ENERGY SECURITY AND NET ZERO SPOKESPERSON:
“Today is an act of weakness from a desperate, directionless Prime Minister, dancing to the tune of a small minority of his party.”
“Having delivered the worst cost of living crisis in generations, the Prime Minister today loads more costs onto the British people. Delaying the phase out of petrol and diesel cars will add billions in costs to families and damage investor confidence in the UK.”
(Compiled by Kylie MacLellan and William James; editing by Michael Holden)
