David Cameron entered No 10 with a promise to lead the “greenest government ever” after his visit to the melting Arctic and iconic photos with huskies. This was meant to signify a new era for the Conservatives and their commitment to the environment. While their actual record on green policy may be mixed, they have consistently emphasized their dedication to this cause. During Theresa May’s tenure, the government passed legislation to commit the UK to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Under Boris Johnson’s leadership, the UK assumed the presidency of Cop26.
However, Rishi Sunak now seems willing to jeopardize the political consensus around net zero in order to gain votes before the next election. In a recent speech, he affirmed his commitment to the 2050 goal, but his other statements indicated that he views UK climate policy as fair game for political maneuvering. He presents a false trade-off between protecting the environment and boosting economic growth in the short term, while ignoring the long-term costs of not taking action.
The independent Climate Change Committee, which monitors progress towards the 2050 target, has already concluded that the UK is falling behind. Sunak’s recent rollback of government commitments will only make achieving net zero more challenging. Pushing back the ban on petrol and diesel cars and weakening regulations for fossil fuel boilers will slow down the transition to cleaner technologies. Sunak also abandoned planned regulations that would have required landlords to improve energy efficiency in rental properties. These decisions have far-reaching implications for UK climate policy.
Furthermore, Sunak’s claims that his actions will reduce costs for consumers are inaccurate. In reality, they will lead to higher energy bills for renters and leave people vulnerable to price hikes. The Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit estimates that cancelling energy efficiency regulations for the private rented sector could cost renters nearly £8bn over the next decade. Slowing down the transition away from fossil-fueled cars and boilers will also expose consumers to price fluctuations that depend on global factors beyond the UK’s control. Ultimately, the fossil fuel industry stands to benefit from Sunak’s decisions, while the costs of not achieving net zero are estimated to be double the costs of reaching it, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility.
Sunak seems to be exaggerating the trade-off between costs for consumers and the goal of net zero, in an attempt to create a new division in politics. He makes misleading implications in his speech, misrepresenting government policies on gas boilers and second-hand petrol cars. His strategy of positioning himself as a champion of ordinary consumers against the elite is unlikely to save the Conservatives from potential electoral defeat. In fact, it may deepen cynicism among voters and undermine support for climate change policies, especially among those already inclined to oppose them.
Ultimately, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak share a similar approach when it comes to the climate crisis. Both are willing to stoke fears and create divisive lines if they believe it will benefit them politically, whether on Brexit or the environment. However, the majority of voters support the net zero target and environmental policies, and they do not blame these policies for the high cost of living. Sunak’s strategy risks eroding trust in politicians and diminishing support for climate change action among the minority of voters who are already skeptical.
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