Sunak tries to reset green image at COP28 after bonfire of net zero policies
IN DUBAI Rishi Sunak warned that the world is not doing enough to tackle climate change as he pushed to reset his image on green policies after watering down some net zero targets.
Speaking at COP 28, the Prime Minister claimed that “climate politics is at breaking point” because politicians do not do enough to convince voters that protecting the environment is in their interest.
And he insisted that the UK remains a global leader on climate policy despite rolling back its green goals, saying that no other leaders raised the net zero U-turn with him during meetings at the summit in Dubai.
Mr Sunak said: “The world needs to do more to tackle climate change. We’ve made real progress, including at the Glasgow summit. But the climate science and mounting evidence of climate-related disasters show that we’re not moving quickly or effectively enough.
“So I’m calling on major emitters to dramatically accelerate delivery on what they’ve already promised. Everyone can do more.”
His attendance at the COP summit, along with that of the King and foreign secretary Lord Cameron, are in stark contrast to the last gathering in Egypt in November last year.
Mr Sunak, who became PM that October, only attended that gathering after causing an outcry by saying he would not go. He also failed to reverse Liz Truss’s decision to ask the King not to attend, despite his track record of environmental campaigning.
It also marks a significant mood shift since the Prime Minister tore up some net zero policies in the wake of the Uxbridge by-election, which the Tories narrowly held onto after campaigning against the expansion of the ULEZ charge for higher polluting vehicles.
In the wake of this Mr Sunak pushed back the deadline for selling new petrol and diesel cars and the phasing out of gas boilers, to the outcry of green groups and some of his own Party.
However, the polls have not moved in his favour as a result, and some have shown that voters, including Tory voters, favour net zero policies.
A senior Government source suggested Mr Sunak also wanted to ensure that he is not seen simply as an anti-green politician because of the delay to some environmental targets he announced in September, saying: “There’s been a balance shift, he needs to project a narrative which is that he really does care about climate change.”
In Dubai Mr Sunak denied that Britain had lost credibility on the issue, saying: “You won’t find another major economy that’s got a more ambitious reduction target for 2030 than the UK.
“The other bit of good news I can give you is we’re on track to deliver all these targets. We’ve already had carbon budgets that we’ve met and we’re on track to meet the next one as well.
“We’ve set out our stall, demonstrated our, I think, both moral and practical leadership on this issue and furthered the agenda in ways that we can make a difference.”
The Prime Minister is said by Downing Street insiders to have been shocked by how far large polluters like China are behind the pace of decarbonisation needed to avoid devastating levels of global warming.
Western countries are keen to encourage a race between China and India to develop more green technology for prestige and geopolitical advantage, i understands.
Ed Miliband, Labour’s shadow Energy Secretary, accused the Prime Minister of bungling his climate change strategy.
He said: “Look at what’s happened since he did his net zero rollback in September. It hasn’t worked for him. And that’s because he’s got the British people wrong. They don’t want an imported US-style, culture war on climate. They want a government that will tackle the climate crisis and the cost of living crisis together.”
Green charities also hit out – Rachel Kennerley of Friends of the Earth said: “Rishi Sunak’s call for tougher action on climate change is completely undermined by his decision to row back on key green policies and vow to ‘max out’ North Sea gas and oil.”
