West Country fury as PM considers weakening green policies
Just Stop Oil say they will march through Bristol in the coming days
Reports that the Prime Minister (PM) is set to weaken the UK's climate change commitments have led to a furious reaction across the West Country.
Widespread reports today (20 September) suggest Rishi Sunak is considering delaying a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars (currently set to come in from 2030) as well as the phasing out of gas boilers.
The BBC first reported the claims saying the PM was preparing a speech for the coming days, though Number 10 has since announced he will give a speech in Downing Street at 4:30pm this afternoon, in an apparent change of plans.
Here in the West Country the reports have sparked comments from scientists, politicians and protest groups including Just Stop Oil, who have announced they will march through Bristol on Saturday (September 23).
A statement from the group includes quotes from key figures in the automotive industry.
Chair of Ford UK, Lisa Brankin, said: “Our business needs three things from the UK government: ambition, commitment and consistency.
“A relaxation of 2030 would undermine all three.”
Saturday's protest is due to start at 12pm on College Green before a march through the city centre.
Harriet Bradley (78) is a former professor of sociology and plans to take part.
“I have worked with young people all my life and it is for them that I go onto the streets with Just Stop Oil," she said.
"This government is frankly unbelievable, it cares nothing about the climate emergency, even ignoring its own climate advisory team, and yet we are almost out of time.
“Everywhere you look, communities around the world are burning or drowning. Fish stocks are being decimated, crops are failing, wildlife and people are dying – and everything we love is under threat.
"I cannot be a bystander as catastrophe unfolds.”
Metro Mayor of the West of England Dan Norris who represents Labour has also commented, saying the reported changes would put our region's net zero targets at risk.
"This tips the balance for the region’s goals, from really challenging to unlikely," he said.
"It’s a bit rich for the Tories to be warning about bankrupting the country - most people think they’ve already done that.
"What’s now clear is you’re also not going to save the planet with a Tory Government.”
University of Bath environmental psychologist and Director of the Centre for Climate Change & Social Transformations (CAST), Prof Lorraine Whitmarsh MBE, says the proposed announcement goes against all scientific evidence on what is required to combat climate change.
"The government’s advisors on climate have repeatedly said we are not on track to reach net zero, so watering down climate policies will mean the country is even further off track," she says in a statement released by the University of Bath.
“We know the UK public is worried about climate change, support most net zero policies, and want to see more government leadership on climate.
"The Prime Minister’s announcement will only serve to diminish public faith that we can avoid the devastating impacts of climate change that we are increasingly seeing.”