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Mitchell’s comments about the importance of the climate crisis to the government come as the prime minister Rishi Sunak makes a somewhat more equivocal assessment. He has stressed that he wants to tackle the issue in what he calls a “proportionate and pragmatic” way that does not unnecessarily impact people’s lives.
Asked whether he stands by the ban on selling new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 by broadcasters on a visit to a housing development in Worcestershire, the Sunak insisted:
Of course net-zero is important to me. So yes we’re going to keep making progress towards our net-zero ambitions and we’re also going to strengthen our energy security.
I think the events over the last year or two have demonstrated the importance of investing more in homegrown energy, whether that’s more nuclear or offshore wind. I think that’s what people want to see and that’s what I’m going to deliver.
Actually, I’m standing up for the British people because I’m also cognisant that we’re living through a time at the moment where inflation is high. That’s having an impact on household and families’ bills. I don’t want to add that, I want to make it easier.
So yes we’re going to make progress towards net-zero but we’re going to do that in a proportionate and pragmatic a way that doesn’t unnecessarily give people more hassle and more costs in their lives – that’s not what I’m interested in and prepared to do.
We had, just a couple of weeks ago, the hottest day, on Monday, that the world has ever experienced. Those temperatures were then exceeded on the Wednesday for a second weekly record.
And then, on Thursday, the third record in one week. The highest temperatures the planet has ever seen. Climate change is real. It is now. And it is essential that the world combats it, and Britain is playing a leading role in doing that.
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