UK Government Shows Lack of Leadership in Weakening Green Policies

Prime Minister Sunak’s U-turn puts short-term politics above the climate.

The current UK government has a history of making U-turns. Take, for example, their dropped manifesto pledges to not raise taxes, scrapped commitments to vital foreign aid, or the plethora of 180s on policies during the pandemic. And that is without mentioning the revolving door of prime ministers (the last two, including our current one, without a general election, but simply chosen by their party). So, it’s hard not to take the stance that whenever the UK government promises to do something, it’s liable to do the opposite. Such now appears to be the case regarding the government’s net-zero policies.

As reported by the Guardian, the BBC, and others, before being announced by prime minister Rishi Sunak, the government now plans seismic shifts regarding key green policies. These will include delays in banning the sale of petrol and diesel cars, dropping energy-efficient targets for private landlords, and weakening plans to phase out the installation of gas boilers. Furthermore, the government will not be introducing proposed measures to encourage carpooling, tax flying, or push for sustainable diets.

In response to criticisms, Sunak said that politicians “of all stripes” were dishonest about the “costs and trade-offs” and accused others of taking “the easy way out, saying we can have it all.”

Of course, Sunak is not entirely wrong here. We can’t have it all. We cannot have unbridled growth in environmentally damaging sectors and keep climate temperatures down. We cannot continue to pursue fossil fuels and expect no damage to the environment. We cannot continue to make promises and not act on them. But the only one taking the easy way out here, is the UK government.

Political commentators have noted that this U-turn regarding climate policy is likely an attempt to create a dividing line between the Tory government and Labour before the next election. Because yes, anti-green policies will still win you (some) votes in the UK, as opposition party Labour discovered in their failure to win Boris Johnson’s former seat in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election. The Tories ran with an attack on the proposed expansion of the London Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez), and, thanks to what some Labour insiders have described as ‘dirty tricks,’ the Tories were able to keep Labour from winning the seat.

But even those within the Tory party aren’t convinced that this latest U-turn is good for the party or country, with Tory peer Zac Goldsmith describing it as “a moment of shame.” Chris Skidmore MP, Chair of the Independent Government review on Net Zero, called it “incredibly disappointing” and “a huge strategic mistake… you can’t just kick the climate can down the road and think it’s all going to be fine”. Meanwhile, Ben Goldsmith, the chair of the Conservative Environment Network, said while speaking to the Guardian: “Any decision to backtrack in our efforts to tackle the greatest challenge of our time would be on the wrong side of history, and of the polls too.”

Politicians outside of the ruling party have been less forgiving still. Green MP Caroline Lucas responded to the news by tweeting a tennis image with the words “Game, set & match to the climate dinosaurs?” She also added, “This absurd rollback will mean higher energy bills, colder homes, fewer jobs, more air pollution & more climate chaos.”

Outside of politics, the business sector has also been left equally perplexed. “I just came out of a meeting where a chunk of the British economy was assured by ministers that net zero was a top priority and that policy stability was crucial for investors. Now this,” said Emma Pinchbeck, chief executive of Energy UK.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) notes that this may undermine demand for a move to electric cars, telling BBC Radio 4’s Today that:

“You want to build close to where you sell, so you need a strong market here in the UK to help secure future investment… The concern now is, does this cause consumers to delay their purchase?”

Auto giant Ford has also weighed in on the matter, with Ford’s UK chair Lisa Brankin saying:

“Our business needs three things from the UK government: ambition, commitment and consistency. A relaxation of [the ban on new diesel and petrol car sales in] 2030 would undermine all three”.

Despite the changes, Sunak says that the government remains “committed to net zero by 2050 and the agreements we have made internationally” but is “doing so in a better, more proportionate way.” But how can anyone trust a commitment from someone who keeps breaking them? It’s like trusting a belligerent drunk who pinky promises to leave the whisky in the cupboard — foolish.

Making matters worse is that, even without the new changes, previous reports have shown the UK is already lagging behind regarding climate policy. And a lords committee noted that the UK is likely to miss net zero targets without urgent action. That changes come at a time when new laws have placed restrictions on personal freedoms like the right to protest, which have already dealt several blows to climate protesters, should not go unnoticed.

Much of Sunak’s argument rests on the idea that the UK is actually over-delivering on climate change and he has gone on record to say that he is “proud that Britain is leading the world on climate change.” But this isn’t what leadership looks like. Leadership does not mean passing the buck to other countries and future generations. Certainly, it does not mean placing party politics above the country’s and the planet’s needs, though Sunak continues to deny this is the case.

And as far as politics go, we’ll have to wait and see if Sunak’s move pays off for him at the next election. That is, if his government doesn’t make a U-turn before then. We can only hope.