31 July 2023 , 20:13
674
0
Rishi Sunak gave the green light for greedy energy giants to drill for more lucrative oil and gas despite growing climate change fears in a desperate bid to cling to power.
The PM caved in to demands from hard-right Tories and big business but snubbed calls to invest in renewables. Critics dismissed his claims it would cut bills. Tory Chris Skidmore said: “This is the wrong decision at the wrong time.”
just last year Mr Sunak insisted soaring energy bills sparked by Putin’s war on Ukraine only reinforced the importance of ending our reliance on fossil fuels.
Mr Sunak caved in to hard-right Tories and big businesses by dishing out hundreds of exploration licences while snubbing pleas to invest in cleaner and cheaper renewables. Critics dismissed his claim the move would bring down energy bills and the End Fuel Poverty Coalition warned the new fields would “only provide a year’s worth of gas for domestic use”. Shares in BP and Shell, which last year posted profits of £23billion and £31billion respectively, soared at the news.
But after some of the hottest weeks on record and raging wildfires in Greece, Tory MP Chris Skidmore said: “This is the wrong decision at the wrong time, when the world is experiencing record heatwaves.” Friends of the Earth’s Mike Childs warned the policy “will simply pour more fuel on the flames”. And Labour ’s Ed Miliband said it “will not take a penny off bills”.
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade
Rishi Sunak on visit to Shell St Fergus Gas Plant in Scotland (PA)He added: “It will do nothing for our energy security and drive a coach and horses through our climate commitments while continuing to leave us at the mercy of fossil fuel dictators like Vladimir Putin.” Think-tank Uplift executive director Tessa Khan said: “What little gas is produced won’t lower energy costs, a fact the Government admits, as it will be sold back to us at market price.”
Is Sunak wrong to allow drilling for more North Sea oil and gas? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.
Tory chairman Greg Hands already warned UK production “wouldn’t reduce the global price of gas”. Mr Sunak, who arrived in Aberdeen on a gas-guzzling RAF plane to announce the licences, claimed if we need fossil fuel it is better to have it here rather than shipping it across the globe.
He insisted the move is “entirely consistent” with the commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. But Greenpeace’s Philip Evans said: “Relying on fossil fuels is terrible for our energy security, the cost of living and the climate.”
Labour vowed to ban new North Sea licences but it is unclear whether it would block approvals awarded if exploration work was yet to start. Mr Sunak has sparked fury by announcing a review of low-traffic neighbourhoods, despite figures showing air pollution is responsible for up to 36,000 deaths a year.
Four green pledges under threat
- The UK is bound by law to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 100% from 1990 levels by 2050. Mr Sunak insists he’s committed to the “net zero” pledge despite pressure from senior Tories. Some 71% of Britons back it.
- Barring gas boilers in new homes from 2025 for low-carbon alternatives, such as heat pumps, looks unlikely. Ending gas boiler sales was planned for 2035. Last week Mr Gove said the area needs to reviewing.
- Boris Johnson ordered landlords to improve energy efficiency ratings to at least a C in privately rented homes by 2028. However, Housing Secretary Michael Gove said recently of the plans: “I think we should relax the pace.”
- Rishi Sunak has ordered a review of low-traffic neighbourhoods, a measure that stops drivers using residential roads as shortcuts. The PM said he was on the side of drivers to “use their cars to do all the things that matter to them”.