He still expected that by 2030 “the vast majority” of cars would be electric,because of improving technology and the move would bring Britain into line with several European countries.
The government also relaxed the 2035 phaseout target for the installation of new gas boilers by introducing a new exemption for the most hard-pressed households,so they would “never have to switch at all”.
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Other retreats Sunak announced included abandoning tougher energy efficiency rules for landlords and delaying a ban on oil boilers off the gas grid,with £7500 grants for boiler upgrades. The government will also “fast track” through the planning system projects to improve connections to the grid.
Sunak was forced to rush forward his speech after his plan to dilute green policies was leaked. He said he was aligning himself with ordinary households who wanted Britain to meet its 2050 net-zero commitments,but on a reasonable timetable.
He said the debate around climate change had been charged with “too much emotion and not enough clarity” and the approach should shift to “consent,not imposition,honesty not obfuscation,pragmatism not ideology.”
“If we continue down this path,we risk losing the consent of the British people and the resulting backlash would not just be against specific policies,but against the wider mission itself,” he said.
Sunak also ruled out several other climate policies – none of which had been promised – such as taxing meat,requiring people to share cars,fly less or use seven bins to aid recycling.
Leading car brands such as Ford,Vauxhall and Volvo have pledged to go fully electric this decade and had made manufacturing decisions with the 2030 ban in mind. Ford accused the government of lacking ambition,commitment and consistency to net-zero.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman backed Sunak’s decision,saying the government was “not going to save the planet by bankrupting the British people”.
But former prime minister Boris Johnson,who introduced the 2030 target,said business needed certainty about net-zero commitments.
“We cannot afford to falter now or in any way lose our ambition for this country,” Johnson said.
Former COP26 president Sir Alok Sharma said backing away from the climate action agenda would leave the planet “on life support”.
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Labour,which holds a major lead over the Conservatives in published opinion polls,immediately promised to reinstate the 2030 deadline if the party wins the next election.