Rishi Sunak leads fight against PM’s ‘extraordinarily costly’ £1.4trillion green target

EU climate chief calls for net zero carbon emissions by 2050

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Sources close to Downing Street have claimed there is a point of contention within the Tory frontbench and the Chancellor of the Exchequer is taking the lead. The UK’s commitment to reach Net-Zero targets by 2050 faces an uphill struggle as MPs reportedly rebel against what they see as a potential source of financial distress for low-income households. Senior Tories fear Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s proposed investment in a greener Britain will see the costs of living skyrocket amid the crisis already sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is said to drawing up plans for richer households to bear the brunt of funding Britain’s climate change targets.

The Treasury has already twice delayed an official review into the costs of meeting the Government’s Net-Zero commitment by 2050.

According to a report in the Sunday Telegraph, the delays are due to the “extraordinary costs” the changes are expected to inflict on working class families.

A source reportedly told the paper: “Obviously, with anything like this, those with less money are going to be disproportionately hit more. That’s common sense.

“That’s why work is ongoing to ensure the best solutions to ensure we hit the target without extraordinary costs to ordinary working class families.”

Earlier this year, the Government signed into law its commitment to slash greenhouse emissions by up to 78 percent by 2035.

The UK’s sixth Carbon Budget marked a major leap towards becoming net-zero by 2050.

Branded the “world’s most ambitious climate change target”, the Carbon Budget incorporated the nation’s share of international maritime and aviation emissions for the very first time.

The Government said it is committed to meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global warming to below 2C and towards 1.5C.

According to a report published by the Mail on Sunday, the cost of reaching the Prime Minister’s Net-Zero target is about £1.4trillion.

The investment would include some £400billion spent on making buildings carbon neutral.

Another £500billion would be put towards de-carbonising the energy sector and £300billion towards making vehicles electric.

Mr Johnson said earlier this year: “We want to continue to raise the bar on tackling climate change, and that’s why we’re setting the most ambitious target to cut emissions in the world.”

He went on to say the UK will become a hub for green technologies and pioneering businesses, in a move that will create thousands of jobs.

However, Mr Sunak is said to oppose these plans, worried about the costs incurred by the Treasury.

The pair’s reportedly frayed relations came to a head recently after Mr Sunak penned a letter criticising the Government’s border rules and their impact on post-Covid recovery.

Mr Johnson is said to have responded with a zany threat to demote the Chancellor to the role of Health Secretary.

As the internal bickering continues, the Government is preparing to host the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow in November.

The summit is being touted as the “world’s best last chance to get runaway climate change under control”.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is due to publish its latest report on the state of the climate today.

Express.co.uk has asked the Treasury to comment on the alleged stand off. 

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