Markus Andrews

Sadiq Khan took aim at Rishi Sunak for “dithering” on climate action as the prime minister announced changes to net zero policy.The Mayor of London spoke at the UN climate summit in New York on Wednesday 20 September after the prime minister held a press conference back home.“The situation that confronts us today is grave, it’s nothing short of self-harm on a planetary scale,” Mr Khan said.“It’s easy to get angry at the delay and dither from some quarters and I know businesses and millions of people feel let down by news from my own country, that our prime minister is now backtracking on the UK’s climate commitments.” More

Rishi Sunak has denied he is “watering down” targets as he announced changes to climate change commitments aimed at reaching net zero by 2050.The prime minister held a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday 20 September, where he announced that the 2030 ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars will be pushed back until 2035.Despite the roll back on net zero policy, Mr Sunak said it is “absolutely wrong” to describe his changes as watering down targets.“Our targets remain, our commitment to net zero and the Paris and Cop agreements that we signed remains.” More

Suella Braverman dismissed the “expert” opinion of Lord Zac Goldsmith as she defended Rishi Sunak’s plans to roll back some of Britain’s key climate pledges.The Conservative peer and former climate and environment minister told BBC Newsnight that it would be a “moment of shame” for the prime minister to weaken green commitments.”[Lord Goldsmith] is an expert in this field but I disagree,” the home secretary told LBC.”I think we need to take into account the current economic climate, we need to take into account the cost of living challenges, we need to make sure this is sustainable and affordable,” Ms Braverman added. More