London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has warned Andy Burnham not to "slow down on net zero", arguing that the recent heatwave and wildfires demonstrate the urgent need for climate action. His comments come amid concerns over the Government's stance on fossil fuels and potential changes to electric vehicle targets.
Reassurance on Net Zero Commitments
Sir Sadiq, who has been nominated for a life peerage, called for "reassurance" from Mr Burnham's Government that there would be no shift away from commitments to end reliance on fossil fuels. He demanded international "action over apathy" on climate change, saying the planet was in a "deeply precarious position".
"And that's why we need reassurance from the Government that they won't slow down on net zero or reducing our reliance on oil and gas and that they'll continue accelerating the green investment we need to get our country and planet back on track," he said.
Government's Approach to Fossil Fuels
Mr Burnham has promised a "pragmatic" approach to North Sea oil and gas, a stance praised by US President Donald Trump, who has advocated a "drill, baby, drill" policy. Labour's 2024 election manifesto pledged no new licences for oil and gas exploration, though existing sites could still be exploited further.
The Prime Minister, after visiting Stourbridge on Friday to see the impact of a wildfire, said: "This is what climate change looks like, here and now." He added that "we have to face up to the changing climate" and "need more clean energy, we need to see that transition accelerate".
Electric Vehicle Targets Under Review
On the same day, the Government launched a consultation on easing targets for the sale of new electric vehicles. The zero-emission vehicle (Zev) mandate currently aims for 80% of all new car sales to be zero-emission by 2030, but the consultation considers lowering this to as low as 50%.
Colin Walker, head of transport at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit think tank, said watering down the target during a time of heatwaves and drought "may seem strange to the increasing number of people concerned by images of homes on fire and the security and affordability of the food we eat".
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "It's right we keep targets under review to ensure they're practical and back British industry."
