The Government is committed both to this target and other international agreements – but in a more proportionate way. For too long, politicians from all parties have not been honest about costs and trade-offs. The Government's revisions do not signify a loss of ambition or that it is abandoning commitments, far from it. The UK has set the most ambitious target to reduce carbon emissions by 68 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels – and is the only major economy with a target of 77 per cent by 2035. Already, the UK has cut emissions faster than any other G7 country (by 48 per cent, compared to 41 per cent in Germany, 23 per cent in France and zero in the United States). This rapid progress allows a more proportionate and realistic approach.
As a country, we must put our long-term interests before short-term political needs. The revisions include: easing the transition to electric vehicles from 2030 to 2035, in line with other similar countries; giving families far more time to transition to heat pumps while significantly increasing grants to upgrade boilers; scrapping onerous energy efficiency requirements and not forcing people to make alterations; no new rules on carpooling, on households rubbish and recycling bins and on more expensive meat; and supporting new oil and gas in the North Sea. These revisions will ease the burden on working people; our net zero target will only be achieved if public support is maintained.
Finally, the Government is embracing the opportunities of the green economy to create more well-paid jobs, with further funding to support green research and development, and more onshore and offshore wind with an improved auction round. I can assure you that the UK will continue to make progress on the most ambitious, stringent de-carbonisation targets in the world - even after these changes are made.