London, Thanasis Gavos

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak presented his decision to “change” the British government’s environmental approach with the aim of a “sensible green leadership policy” at an emergency press conference in Downing Street on Wednesday afternoon.

Confirming press reports, he made a series of announcements to scrap or extend the deadline for implementing measures on the way to achieving the goal of zero emissions by 2050.

Mr. Sunak assured that his government is not abandoning any of the environmental goals to which it has committed itself internationally, i.e. not even the intermediate goal of reducing pollutants by 68% by 2030. But he said that the goals will be achieved with a “more proportionate and realistic approach” .

He said the first thing needed to change the terms of the climate policy debate, with the country moving away from the two extremes – climate change deniers and “zealots” to achieve zero emissions no matter the cost.

He justified the changes to environmental policy by saying they impose disproportionate and unnecessary costs on citizens and that Britain has overshot its targets for environmental protection.

Regarding the announcements, he confirmed the information that he is postponing the ban on the sale of new gasoline and diesel vehicles from 2030 to 2035, which he noted is in line with the policy of European countries such as Germany.

He also announced the delay in the deadline for replacing domestic gas burners with more environmentally friendly heat pumps until 2035. In this context, he announced that the fund for upgrading burners is increasing by 50% to £7,500.

The obligation for rental house owners to ensure a minimum level of energy efficiency is also removed.

He also announced reforms to the approval of energy infrastructure, the funding of at least 150 million pounds to at least 50 scientists and engineers to develop innovative green technologies and highlighted the decisions to develop nuclear power generation projects and build offshore wind farms.

In closing, Mr Sunak said that “consent, not enforcement” is “the only way” to achieve environmental goals.

The revelation from the BBC on Tuesday of the prime minister’s intentions caused not only the acceleration of the presentation of his plans but also fierce criticism from the opposition, Conservative officials, businesses and environmental organizations.

Labor and other parties have accused the government of clouded thinking about achieving zero emissions and Mr Sunak of a lack of commitment to tackling climate change.

Boris Johnson and Al Gore, among others, had voiced their disagreement with Mr Sunak’s intentions before the announcements.

Rishi Sunak’s critics attribute the softening of environmental policies to interpreting the message from his surprise landslide election victory in Uxbridge district for the parliamentary seat left vacant by the resignation of Boris Johnson.

The victory of the Conservative candidate was attributed to the opposition of the residents of this district of west London to the decision of the Labor mayor of the British capital Sadiq Khan to extend the Ultra Low Pollution Zone.