Prime Minister Andy Burnham has insisted no decision has yet been made on changes to electric vehicle targets amid reports he is preparing to slash totals.
The Guardian reported that his de facto deputy Louise Haigh is expected to agree this week to cut a target for EV sales by about a quarter.
Consultation on zero-emission vehicles
Mr Burnham is due to attend the Cop31 climate summit beginning on Monday in Antalya, on Turkey's southern coast, for the first time as Prime Minister.
When questioned during a visit to Watford on how he would justify such a move to those who view it as undermining the Government's commitment to the green agenda, he said: "Well, the consultation on the mandate for zero-emission vehicles concluded only a fortnight ago, so obviously that is being looked at now."
"The range of responses to the consultation... so these reports are just that: they're reports, they're speculation and no decision has been made at this point."
The Government launched a consultation in August on the zero emission vehicle (Zev) mandate amid growing concerns from carmakers over the implications of the requirement to phase out the sale of purely petrol or diesel cars and vans.
Possible target reduction
The current framework requires 80% of car sales to be zero emission — typically electric-powered — by 2030, with hybrids permitted to account for the remainder.
Under the options outlined in the consultation, the target could be reduced to as low as 50%. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has previously branded the current mandate a "fantasy" and welcomed the review.
The Guardian reported that the Government is expected to approve a 60% target, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from environmental campaigners, particularly given the timing coinciding with an international climate conference.
Government commitment
The Prime Minister's official spokesman insisted Mr Burnham remained firmly committed to addressing climate change. His attendance at the Cop 31 summit sends a "clear message that the UK remains a climate leader", the spokesman said.
"The Government is fully behind the zero emission vehicle mandate, and no decisions have been taken yet.
"We're sticking to our commitments: on phasing out new cars that run only on petrol or diesel by 2030, (that) every new car and van will be zero emissions by 2035 and our legally binding net zero targets.
"None of that is changing.
"The consultation is about getting the details right, so the switch works for drivers, for carmakers and for the hundreds of workers whose jobs depend on it."
Ms Haigh will oversee the Government's decision-making process after the Prime Minister stepped aside due to his wife Marie-France van Heel's role advising the board of Manchester-based electric vehicle charging network Be. EV.
Political reactions
The prospect of a diluted Zev mandate has drawn criticism from a number of Labour MPs. Catherine Fookes, the MP for Monmouthshire, told The Guardian: "The Government has some incredibly difficult decisions to make in the coming months and the Prime Minister will need to weigh up the consequences of each.
"We need the ZEV mandate to stay, and Rosebank (oil field) to be rejected."
The Labour Climate and Environment Forum stated in a social media post: "The Government is right to support the industry and its workers, but weakening the mandate will do little to help."
Green MP Sian Berry said: "The switch to EVs has the potential to create greater emissions savings than any other energy transition policy, while providing drivers with vehicles that can be significantly cheaper to run.
"Yet again, this Labour Government is heading in the wrong direction.
"Instead of pandering to corporate lobbying and stalling on the phase-out of petrol and diesel vehicles, they should be boosting EV uptake through vehicle scrappage schemes and cheaper, more abundant and more reliable public charging infrastructure."
