NOT SO KEEN ON GREEN
RISHI SUNAK CONFIRMS LOOSENING OF SEVERAL KEY GREEN PLEDGES
In a speech on, 20 September, Rishi Sunak announced a major roll-back of several key green policies despite a fierce backlash from business groups, climate activists and some members of his own Conservative Party. The Prime Minister said there was “nothing ambitious about simply asserting a goal for a short-term headline without being honest with the public about the tough choices and sacrifices involved, and without any meaningful democratic debate about how we get there.” And he argued: “No one in Westminster politics has the courage to look people in the eye and explain what’s really involved. That’s wrong, and it changes now.” The Conservative government passed a law in 2019 vowing to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Even though that headline target remains in place, Sunak has sought to draw a dividing line with the opposition Labour party in how the pledge is met. He confirmed he would now “ease the transition to electric vehicles,” shifting a date for a ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 until 2035. His speech initially left uncertainty about the fate of the “zero emissions vehicle mandate”, which would leave manufacturers facing fines if 22 per cent of their new car sales were not electric next year, and 80 per cent in 2030. However, The Times reports that government officials have now indicated that the goals would remain and become law by January at the latest; and that the targets remain unchanged from
30
figures published in March so that more than half of new cars sold in the UK will have to be electric within five years.
What does this mean for our industry? In a statement, carmaker Ford UK - which has invested close to half a billion pounds in its UK facilities in preparation for the 2030 vehicle target - said it needed “ambition, commitment and consistency,” from the government. It warned “a relaxation of the 2030 EV goal would undermine all three.” Liam Griffin, CEO at Addison Lee, commented: “As a leader in the transition to electric, we know how difficult the shift has been for businesses looking to create a greener London. The reliability and availability of charging infra- structure continues to be the most significant barrier. “Where charging providers once had confidence that a 2030 ban meant a guaranteed increase in the number of EVs on the road, and therefore a greater need for charging provision across the city, they no longer have this assur- ance, putting the roll-out of further infrastructure at risk. “Pulling back on the 2030 com- mitment reduces the ability of operators to confidently invest in
the transition. Similarly, in London, the removal of financial incentives - such as the EV exemptions within London’s Congestion Zone - will deter many from moving to EVs and slow the reduction of air pollution across the capital.” David Lawrie Director of NPHTA said: “We’ve seen the announce- ment to push back the deadline for vehicle manufacturers to stop supplying internal combustion engines but what difference will it really make? The simple answer is…. none! “Manufacturers are not going to go backwards for nothing more than a delay in time scales. Councils are not going to about turn their vehicle policies to allow for the longer period to make the transition to electric. CAZs are still being introduced and in some cases expanded. And the prices of second-hand cars are not going down just because the government moves the goalposts. “We remain in a cost-of-living crisis, vehicle prices, both new and second-hand, are still excessively high and the availability of electric WAVs is still non-existent. “Whilst we have recently welcomed some positive steps from some councils, including the removal of some of the entry age limits and the extension of the exit age limits for taxis and PHVS, we actually think this shift in policy is nothing more than an attempt to gain votes. We cannot see how overall it is likely to have any kind of positive impact or even a relaxation in council time frames to create breathing space for our trade. We may be wrong; but I highly doubt it!”
OCTOBER 2023 PHTM
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