Rishi Sunak to change UK net-zero plans 'for the better'

Prime Minister responds to reports he was considering watering down government’s net-zero pledges

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. AP

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is poised to water down some of Britain's net zero policies, triggering a backlash from green-minded MPs.

Environmentalists and senior Conservatives warned against a climbdown that former Cop26 president Alok Sharma would "not help economically or electorally". But Home Secretary Suella Braverman said net zero policies must not mean "bankrupting the British people".

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak plans to give a speech in the coming days setting out "important long-term decisions". He said Britain was still committed to net zero by 2050 but did not deny that policy changes were coming.

The plans leaked to the BBC suggested that, among other things, deadlines to ban new petrol cars from 2030 and phasing out gas boilers from 2035 could be postponed.

Speaking for the government on a morning broadcast round, Ms Braverman said these were "goals, not straitjackets".

"We’re not going to save the planet by bankrupting the British people,” she said.

Mr Sharma told BBC radio that backtracking on climate goals would be "incredibly damaging for business confidence, for inward investment".

“And frankly, I really do not believe that it’s going to help any political party electorally which chooses to go down this path,” he said.

Mr Sunak responded to the leak with a statement saying he was "proud that Britain is leading the world on climate change".

“We are committed to Net Zero by 2050 and the agreements we have made internationally – but doing so in a better, more proportionate way.

“I’ll be giving a speech this week to set out an important long-term decision we need to make so our country becomes the place I know we all want it to be for our children.”

The Prime Minister's announcement comes amid reports he was considering watering down some of the government’s net-zero pledges.

Although he is not expected to ditch the legal commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, he could say that the UK has overperformed on dealing with climate change and that other nations need to increase their action, according to the broadcaster.

The BBC said it had seen documents suggesting there could be changes to as many as seven core policies or commitments.

This could include weakening the plan to phase out gas boilers from 2035 and delaying the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars – currently due in 2030 – by five years.

The PA news agency understands some Tory MPs are considering writing letters of no confidence in Mr Sunak if he goes ahead with the changes.

He has repeatedly used the language of pragmatism and proportionality when discussing net zero, but campaigners and activists have accused him of a lack of interest in climate policies.

Eight countries with net-zero emissions – in pictures

Guyana is net zero thanks to dense rainforest cover, despite being a newly oil-producing nation. AFP

Bhutan was the first country to report net-zero emissions. Getty

Niue's emissions are negligible, at less than 0.0001 per cent. Photo: Flickr

Suriname's forests absorb billions of tonnes of CO2. Getty

Panama was one of the first three countries to report net-zero emissions. Photo: Flickr

The Comoros government has reported its carbon emissions have been in the negative since at least 2015. AFP

Almost 90 per cent of Gabon's surface is covered by forests, allowing for optimal carbon absorption. Getty

Madagascar may lose its net-zero status if rampant deforestation continues. Photo: Alexandra Laube / imageBROKER / Shutterstock

Conservative success in the summer’s Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election, won largely through a campaign against the expansion of the ultra-low emission zone, has led some MPs to call for Mr Sunak to water down or abandon net-zero pledges.

While he has repeatedly said he is committed to cutting carbon emissions, the granting of new oil and gas licences and recent moves to curb green policies have attracted criticism.

“The decision will cost the UK jobs, inward investment, and future economic growth that could have been ours by committing to the industries of the future,” said Chris Skidmore, a Conservative former energy minister who has become increasingly outspoken on net zero.

“It will potentially destabilise thousands of jobs and see investment go elsewhere.

“And ultimately, the people who will pay the price for this will be householders whose bills will remain higher as a result of inefficient fossil fuels and being dependent on volatile international fossil fuel prices.

“Rishi Sunak still has time to think again and not make the greatest mistake of his premiership, condemning the UK to missing out on what can be the opportunity of the decade to deliver growth, jobs and future prosperity.”

Tory former Cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke tweeted that “it is in our environmental, economic, moral and (yes) political interests as @Conservatives to make sure we lead on this issue rather than disown it”.

“This is a total farce. The country cannot go on with a Conservative government in total disarray, stumbling from crisis to crisis,” a Labour Party representative said.

“Ministers need to urgently provide clarity on all eight of the policies reportedly up for review.”

Jess Ralston, head of energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said: “All of this would leave us more dependent on foreign oil and gas, less energy independent and with investors spooked.

“As the rest of the world is rushing to invest in net-zero industries, any further rowing back by the UK would leave our international standing further tarnished.”