Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has sworn to get the UK off polluting fossil fuels and on to extra clear energy to be able to safe power provides, bucking claims by his predecessor Liz Truss that oil and gasoline growth was important.
Addressing world leaders at COP27 in Egypt on Monday, Mr Sunak will argue the “shock” to international power markets triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine underscores the necessity to transfer to cheaper, cleaner, safer power sources.
Amid home financial woes, the PM had declined the invite to the largest local weather summit of the yr.
But this week, Mr Sunak made a dramatic U-turn following intense criticism he was lacking an environmental and geopolitical alternative.
In a press release earlier than his departure for Sharm El-Sheikh on the Red Sea, Mr Sunak stated preventing local weather change is not only a “moral good” however “fundamental to our future prosperity and security”.
“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and contemptible manipulation of energy prices has only reinforced the importance of ending our dependence on fossil fuels,” he stated.
Number 10 will hope the promise to make the UK a “clean energy superpower” smooths the way in which for negotiations at COP27, the place virtually 200 international locations should every carry one thing to the desk within the expectation others do the identical.
Sunak ‘doesn’t get’ scale of disaster
But the federal government remains to be mooting plans to subject greater than 100 new licences for North Sea oil and gasoline extraction, initiated by Boris Johnson and pushed strongly by his successor, Ms Truss.
It has additionally additional delayed a choice on whether or not to approve a brand new coal mine in Cumbria, anticipated on Monday however now pushed again till after COP27.
“We need to move further and faster to transition to renewable energy,” the PM added, though his staff didn’t unveil particulars of funding or targets to facilitate the goal.
Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer stated Mr Sunak “just does not get” the size of the local weather disaster.
Writing in The Observer, Sir Keir stated: “Twelve years of the Conservatives has left our energy system exposed, bills rocketing, while failing to tackle the climate emergency.
“My Labour authorities will deal with the local weather disaster by greedy the alternatives it presents.
“We’ll deliver clean power for 2030, and our publicly owned energy generator GB Energy will cut bills, secure our energy supplies, and create jobs.”
‘UK’s insurance policies do not match targets’
Greenpeace UK stated Mr Sunak’s speech may “make the right noises,” however the “hard currency of global climate diplomacy is actions, not words”.
“Not only do the UK’s policies completely fail to match up to its climate targets, but it has also failed to pay more than $300m promised to support developing countries deal with devastating climate impacts,” head of politics Rebecca Newsom informed Sky News.
Speaking from Sharm El-Sheikh, she urged the PM to rule out new oil and gasoline drilling, and to put money into residence insulation to chop power demand.
Read extra:
Crucial local weather summit hinges on this taboo subject
Adam Boulton appears to be like forward as to whether COP27 can succeed
Mr Sunak’s rhetoric marks a shift from his predecessor, who aggressively sought to spice up home fossil gas manufacturing throughout her transient tenure. He has overturned the choice by Ms Truss to carry the ban on fracking for shale gasoline.
A report by main power NGO Global Energy Monitor warned handing out new permits to reap oil and gasoline from the North Sea is incompatible with the UK’s aim to achieve net-zero, which suggests slashing emissions as a lot as doable and offsetting the remainder.
Many new tasks permitted this yr wouldn’t begin producing for a number of years, would promote the oil and gasoline on worldwide markets, and nonetheless be in operation within the early-to-mid 2050s, risking decarbonisation targets in addition to changing into stranded belongings.
Watch the Daily Climate Show at 3.30pm Monday to Friday, and The Climate Show with Tom Heap on Saturday and Sunday at 3.30pm and seven.30pm.
All on Sky News, on the Sky News web site and app, on YouTube and Twitter.
The present investigates how international warming is altering our panorama and highlights options to the disaster.
Source: information.sky.com”