Weekly poll: Is Rishi Sunak’s climate backpedalling good or disastrous for UK business?

This poll is now closed. It received 515 votes, with 62 per cent voting in opposition to Sunak's roll-back on a series of low carbon pledges, and 38 per cent voting in support of his new plans.

Another week, another rowing back on climate pledges by the UK government. Whilst just last month Rishi Sunak announced an expansion of North Sea oil and gas drilling, the PM has now announced a further watering down of the UK’s net zero commitments, according to a widely reported government leak.

Announced during a major speech on Wednesday 20th September proposals to include a delay on the ban of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars (which is currently slated for 2030), a watering down of plans to phase out gas boilers, and the abandonment of new energy efficiency targets for private rented homes.

Sunak has claimed that his plans represent a pragmatic response that will help the economy without denting the UK’s 2050 net zero plans. However, the details have been widely slammed across the business and scientific communities as naive, politically motivated decisions that will damage the UK and surrender what could be a leading position at the forefront of the global green economy.