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Rishi Sunak’s rollback on net zero pledges is likely to leave Britons with higher bills and make it harder for the UK to hit legally binding environmental targets, as warned by the government’s independent climate adviser.
The prime minister recently announced a series of U-turns on Britain’s green ambitions, including delaying a ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars until 2035, the phaseout of fossil fuel boilers, and scrapping energy efficiency rules for landlords.
In its latest assessment, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) stated that Britain only has a credible plan for 28% of the necessary emissions cuts to achieve its 2030 carbon reduction target. This number would have been 31% without the recent policy rollback.
Piers Forster, CCC chair, expressed concern regarding the UK’s ability to reach its future emissions reduction targets, particularly the significant policy gap in achieving the 2030 goal.
The CCC also highlighted that the changes to net zero measures are likely to increase energy bills and motoring costs for households. However, electric vehicles are projected to be significantly cheaper to own and operate than petrol and diesel vehicles over their lifetimes, so undermining their rollout will ultimately lead to higher costs.
Most countries have committed to zero greenhouse gas emissions targets by mid-century to address the threat of global climate change, considering the projected record-breaking heat of 2023.
Despite the policy changes, Sunak has reiterated the UK’s commitment to its net zero 2050 target and has argued that the country has made significant progress in cutting emissions compared to its global peers.
The CCC acknowledged that there has been real and tangible policy progress since its previous assessment in June, particularly the government’s decision to set annual targets for electric vehicle car sales and the recent deal with Tata Steel for the electrification of the Port Talbot steelworks.
Nevertheless, Forster highlighted that the UK’s position as a global climate leader has come under renewed scrutiny, and Sunak’s policy shift has made meeting future targets more challenging.
The committee raised concerns about the delay and exemptions in the scheme to phase out fossil fuel boilers and warned of the absence of bids from offshore wind developers in the government’s latest annual auction of subsidy contracts for renewable energy projects.
Forster stated that Sunak’s decisions have communicated that the UK will allow more time for the transition to clean technologies, which counters the positive progress of other announcements.
The British government maintains that the UK is still a global leader on climate and has reduced emissions at a faster rate compared to any other G7 country. They are confident in meeting future carbon commitments, including net zero, while easing burdens on families by saving households up to £15,000 on upfront costs for home upgrades.
The government spokesperson reassured that the UK will continue to meet international commitments under the Paris Agreement by embracing clean industries, protecting national security, and promoting long-term energy bill reductions.
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