Major Row Back on Green Policies: Petrol Car Ban and Gas Boiler Plan Delayed

Rishi Sunak is poised to announce a major rowing back on several green policies, including pushing back plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars – in a step that threatens to provoke a row with environmentalist Tories.

Delayed Ban on Petrol and Diesel Cars

The Prime Minister is understood to be considering ripping up the pledge made by Boris Johnson in 2020 to ban new petrol cars within a decade, pushing the target date from 2030 to 2035. This decision raises concerns among environmentalist Tory MPs who are committed to tackling climate change.

Watered Down Gas Boiler Plan

The Prime Minister is also likely to water down Mr Johnson’s promise to ban new gas boilers by 2035. Instead, the target will be to cut the number of installations by 80 per cent by that date. While this move may be an attempt to balance climate policies with the concerns of hard-working families, it risks negative consequences.

Sunak’s Speech and Controversy

These policy changes are expected to be set out in a major speech by Mr Sunak later this week, where he will highlight the UK’s commitment to tackling climate change. However, there are concerns within the Conservative Party that letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister may be written by environmentalist Tory MPs who oppose these changes.

Critics Speak Out

Chris Skidmore, a Conservative former energy minister, warns that such decisions will cost the UK jobs, inward investment, and future economic growth. This move could potentially destabilize thousands of jobs and see investment go elsewhere, ultimately impacting households with higher bills due to inefficient fossil fuels.

Hannah Martin of Green New Deal Rising criticizes the government for breaking promises and ignoring the urgency to combat climate change. Ed Matthew, campaigns director for independent climate change think tank E3G, adds that delays on regulations for insulation, electric vehicles, and clean heat will drive up energy bills and damage the UK’s ability to compete in green growth.

A Pragmatic Approach

While the Prime Minister is not expected to backtrack on the Government’s overall commitment to reaching net zero by 2050, he emphasizes the need to avoid burdening consumers and households during a cost of living crisis. The government seeks a balance between climate policies and the economic well-being of its citizens.

Additional Policy Changes

In addition to the delays on petrol car bans and the weakening of the gas boiler plan, the government will not require landlords to meet new energy efficiency regulations, and the ban on off-grid oil boilers may also face delays. This comes after the decision to delay new recycling rules until 2025.

Conclusion – Impact on the UK

The UK faces a critical moment in its commitment to climate change with these proposed policy changes. While the government aims to optimize the balance between environmental responsibility and economic stability, environmentalists and think tanks argue that these revisions could have catastrophic economic and environmental consequences. As the UK faces both domestic and international pressures, it remains to be seen how these decisions will shape the nation’s future.