Rishi Sunak told the G20 that “net zero, done right, can be very good for jobs.” Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Europe
Rishi Sunak has vowed not to take a «hair shirt» approach to achieving net zero, saying green policies should not result in taxpayers «giving up everything and your bills going up» In his most pointed comments yet on the risks of a draconian approach to meeting Britain's climate targets, he insisted efforts to cut carbon emissions must be used to «create jobs and opportunity» and cut consumer bills .
His latest report The remarks follow a significant shift in the government's approach to net zero following a backlash among MPs and voters over specific measures, such as the Ulez Sadiq Khan expansion, which are seen as penalizing consumers.
The change began with an interview Michael Gove, the Leveling Up Secretary, gave to The Telegraph in July, in which he warned against treating the environment as a “religious crusade” and signaled a relaxation of measures that are “asking too much too quickly.” . » landlords.
Mr Sunak then insisted he would move towards net zero in a “proportionate and pragmatic way”, but rejected calls to delay the timing of outlawing the sale of petrol cars and gas boilers.
Speaking at the G20 summit in New Delhi on Saturday, the prime minister rejected suggestions that India's rate of economic growth relative to Britain was helped by its failure to meet a 2050 target of cutting emissions to net zero, instead favoring 2070.< /p>
He said: “This is not the lesson of India's economic growth. Net zero, if done right, can be very beneficial for jobs.
“That's what we need to make sure this story is about. To me, the net-zero story doesn't have to be a hair-raising story of you giving up everything and your bills going up. I believe this is not the net zero vision that is right for the UK.
“The net zero vision that I think has the most support and is the right one is based on the recognition that for our children and grandchildren, it is important to leave the environment in better condition than we found it. I suppose that. But we need to do it in a way that creates jobs for people and expands opportunities.”
Separately, Mr Sunak announced the UK's biggest single financial contribution to help developing countries cut emissions, saying the UK would contribute in sterling. $1.62 billion went to the Green Climate Fund, which also helps communities adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Addressing G20 leaders, he said: “The UK is stepping up its efforts and delivering on its climate commitments, both by decarbonising our own economy and by supporting the world's most vulnerable people to combat the impacts of climate change. This is the kind of leadership the world rightly expects from G20 countries.
Mr Sunak said his focus in the UK would be on initiatives such as developing new technology for small modular nuclear reactors in the UK and helping to ensure that «electric batteries keep getting better and better.»
«If we can make a story about jobs, opportunity and cutting bills, then that would be a positive way to just use net zero as a way to continue boosting growth,» he added.
The Telegraph reported last week that Mr Sunak would reject a recommendation from the Climate Change Committee, the government's official adviser, that all airport expansions should be stopped.< /p >
The Prime Minister also announced a review of controversial anti-car schemes across the UK.
Свежие комментарии