UK’s Rishi Sunak confirms loosening of key green pledges – POLITICOhttps://www.politico.eu/article/uk-rishi-sunak-confirm-loosen-key-green-policy-pledges-climate-crisis-conservative-party/Speaking in Downing Street Wednesday, Sunak confirmed he would “ease the transition to electric vehicles,” shifting a date for a ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 until 2035.
There would, he promised, be “more time to transition to heat pumps,” a cleaner form of heating, with a target for phasing out gas-powered boilers by 2035 slipping back. But cash grants offer to homeowners to upgrade their heating systems will, he promised, be boosted.
Sunak said he would ensure no new energy efficiency rules are imposed on landlords or homeowners. He delayed to 2035 what had been a 2026 target for banning off-grid fossil fuel.
He ruled out any new taxes aimed at discouraging flying and announced a rethink of planned new recycling schemes.
Seeking to justify his shift, Sunak warned that continuing down the current policy path risked “losing the consent of the British people — and the resulting backlash will not just be against specific policies, but against the wider mission itself, meaning we might never achieve our goal.”