UK Climate Campaigners Warn of Net Zero Risks from Key Policy Decisions

Campaigners warn that Andy Burnham risks a climate disaster if the government fails to coordinate major decisions that could undermine net zero. Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth have written to the prime minister urging ministers to assess the decisions' combined effects rather than consider each policy separately. Ministers face decisions concerning North Sea drilling, Heathrow expansion, electric vehicle targets and heat pump grants.

The letter estimates that four potential policy changes would generate 402 million tonnes of CO2 over the next 25 years. The estimate covers approving Rosebank drilling, expanding Heathrow, weakening electric vehicle targets and reducing heat pump grants. Those emissions would exceed the output of 106 coal plants operating for one year. The additional emissions would be sufficient to stop the UK meeting carbon budgets and reaching net zero.

Greenpeace chief scientist Doug Parr said decisions over the next few months could determine the Burnham government's climate legacy. Parr said the administration appeared to understand the urgency of reducing emissions responsible for deadly heatwaves and droughts. However, Parr warned that the government could still reverse substantial progress already achieved by the UK. Parr urged ministers not to rush the decisions or consider each decision without assessing the combined climate effects.

The government approved drilling at the Jackdaw gasfield last week despite warnings that the project would create only 27 new jobs. The warnings also said Jackdaw would not reduce living costs and would contribute little additional UK tax revenue. The North Sea fossil fuel industry is now seeking approval for the more contentious Rosebank oilfield, west of Shetland. Rosebank would generate higher emissions than Jackdaw.

Car manufacturers have pressed the government to weaken the requirement that every new car and van sold be electric by 2035. The manufacturers want petrol and diesel vehicles to account for as much as half of sales in 2030. That allowance would fall well short of the existing target for electric vehicles to represent 80% of sales by 2030. The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit estimates that weakening the mandate could generate future emissions equivalent to about 60% of Rosebank's emissions because vehicles remain in use for many years.

Airlines are seeking Heathrow expansion. Chancellor John Healey strongly supports Heathrow expansion because Healey believes the project could boost economic growth. However, campaigners dispute that assessment and point to the airport expansion already being pursued at Gatwick.

Healey is likely to reduce the boiler upgrade scheme in the budget on Wednesday. The scheme offers households grants to replace gas boilers with heat pumps. The likely reduction comes despite the scheme's savings on gas consumption and the slow progress toward electric heating.

Friends of the Earth climate lead Imogen Dow said rejecting the high-carbon proposals could help the UK create a cleaner, fairer and more prosperous society. Renewable energy could reduce bills, particularly while oil and gas prices are soaring. The CBI says the net zero economy has expanded faster than the wider economy. Dow said meeting climate goals would strengthen the economy, reduce household bills, improve public health and safeguard communities. Dow urged governments such as the UK's to maintain climate commitments while powerful vested interests push the world toward climate catastrophe.

A government spokesperson said reindustrialisation would not compromise climate obligations or net zero. The spokesperson said clean power had attracted £110 billion in announced investment over the past two years. The spokesperson also said renewable energy auctions had supported thousands of jobs and described those auctions as record-setting.