SENIOR figures from Coventry’s two universities have slammed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to ‘water down’ net zero commitments.
The PM’s announcement included delaying the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars to 2035 and scrapping policies to force landlords to upgrade the energy efficiency of their properties.
Other delays include moving the ban on installing oil and LPG boilers, and new coal heating, for off-gas-grid homes to 2035, instead of phasing them out from 2026.
Rishi Sunak said Britain now had a more pragmatic, proportionate, and realistic approach to reaching Net Zero by 2050 that eased the burdens on families.
But Coventry University’s Vice-Chancellor Prof John Latham CBE said the government postponement on banning the sale of petrol and diesel cars could cause industrial delays, market uncertainty, and reputational damage.
“The original announcement proposing a 2030 deadline may have seemed a little optimistic, however, the decision to formally delay this ruling could have significant consequences on the automotive industry in this country.
“The window for opportunity is quickly closing and we must act now if we are to have the materials and industry in place for a successful clean future.”
University of Warwick economist Prof Thijs Van Rens said the sleight of hand by Rishi Sunak was ‘truly scandalous.’
“The measures that have been announced can be welcomed to some extent, such as lifting the ban on onshore wind and investing in nuclear energy.
“However, they will not be sufficient to reach net zero by 2050, as the UK has committed to do.
“And it is a real shame that Sunak has chosen to dress this announcement up in a ‘culture war’ guise by claiming to be stopping measures that were never suggested in the first place”.
