Shadow net zero secretary Ed Miliband has accused British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of not caring about the climate crisis, following the postponement of a series of green policies. According to Miliband, Sunak views the drive to cut emissions as an obligation rather than an economic opportunity. Miliband made the comments while addressing the online conference of Labour’s sister Co-operative Party, where he noted that the UK is facing three crises: a cost-of-living crisis, a long-term economic crisis, and a climate crisis.
Miliband criticized Sunak for failing to provide answers to these crises, stating that the Prime Minister does not give a damn about the climate crisis. He pointed out that Sunak had recently pushed back the ban on new petrol and diesel cars, softened the plan to phase out gas boilers by 2035, and scrapped the requirement for energy efficiency upgrades to homes. Miliband argued that Sunak’s approach sees the climate crisis as an obligation to be managed rather than an opportunity to be seized.
Rishi Sunak (Via Rishi Sunak/Twitter)
In contrast, Miliband stated that Labour sees the climate crisis as an opportunity to be seized, pointing to the potential jobs and economic benefits that can be generated in industries such as home insulation and wind turbine manufacturing. He emphasized the need for a massive expansion of community renewable energy schemes as part of Labour’s plan to end the use of fossil fuels in electricity production. Miliband argued that this approach would not only help to tackle climate change but also reduce energy bills and eliminate the influence of leaders like Vladimir Putin on global prices.
Miliband concluded that the only route to energy security in the modern world is through zero-carbon power, which is homegrown and zero-carbon. He warned that without this approach, the UK would remain hostage to dictators, petrostates, and other countries that wield significant influence over the global energy market.
