The UK Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has rejected claims that the country is leaving climate progress to other nations, after partly relaxing some net zero policies. Prime Minister Boris Johnson had previously postponed new petrol and diesel car bans until 2035 and licences for oil and gas projects in the North Sea. Sunak argued at the COP 28 summit that leaders should deal with climate change through solutions having no effect on people’s finances. On Friday, the government revealed £888m ($1.18bn) of new green funding, taking the total to £1.6bn, including £500m for tackling deforestation. Energy firms Masdar and RWE unveiled a £11bn investment in the UK’s Dogger Bank offshore wind farm.
Former Conservative cabinet minister and COP26 president, Sir Alok Sharma, spoke out against the UK retracting its green commitments. Sharma called on Sunak to phase out fossil fuels, stating a “successful outcome” from COP26 was due to the “strong domestic commitment” of the UK. Sunak delayed several net zero targets, arguing most other countries’ goals were less ambitious than the UK’s. He believes the discussion on solving climate change has been “polarised by extremes, which is not good for the country” and called for pragmatism in addressing climate change.
Opposition leader, Sir Keir Starmer, speaking at the conference in the UAE, stated that it was the prime minister’s casting aside of global leadership on climate change that is polarising the debate. Urging all countries to do more to combat climate change, Starmer warned of disasters measured in floods and fires and other catastrophic events from missing climate change targets. Rachel Kennerley, representing Friends of the Earth in Dubai, criticised Sunak’s call for tougher action on climate change when the UK has backtracked green policies, urging the prime minister to champion the transition to green energy to create new jobs, lower bills and enhance energy security.
In an attempt to deal with climate change, the UK government has cancelled net zero emission targets in the past few months, including the ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles and licences for oil and gas projects in the North Sea until 2035. The UK was criticised at the COP28 summit for its loss of commitment on environmental issues. Sunak stated that the talk around climate change had become polarised by extremes, and there needed to be a pragmatic solution to the climate issue that does not affect people’s finances. However, critics argue that the delay in green targets serves to undermine business confidence, as well as the UK’s international credibility on the issue. Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, called for more action from all countries on climate change, warning of the catastrophic failures that may result if targets are not met. Rachel Kennerley, representing Friends of the Earth, urged a faster transition to a green economy
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