MPs call on Liz Truss to hold to net zero target after campaign pledges
Liz Truss must hold to the legally binding target to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, parliamentarians from all of the UK’s major parties have urged in a letter to the incoming prime minister.
Truss has pledged to keep the target, but her campaign promises to expand oil and gas production in the North Sea, voices support for fracking, and her opposition to onshore wind and solar farms have led to fears that she could renege on actions needed to meet the target.
Her appointment of Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former minister for Brexit opportunities, as secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy has also raised concerns among climate campaigners and energy experts.
Rees-Mogg has cast doubt on the need to tackle the climate crisis in the past, and has vowed to “squeeze every last cubic inch of gas from the North Sea”. He also supports fracking, while opposing onshore wind power generation.
The group of 29 MPs and peers from the all-party parliamentary group on the environment have written to Truss asking her to recommit to net zero and push forward with measures that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and help to bring down soaring energy bills.
“The decisions your government takes will have a noticeable impact on the lives of people across the country and indeed our entire planet,” they wrote, in a letter seen by the Guardian. “We hope that as prime minister you will continue to support measures to reach net zero by 2050 or sooner in this country, whilst also being a global champion for climate and nature on the international stage.”
They call for her to recommit to net zero, and to “getting the UK on track to meet its legally binding carbon budgets”; to boost renewable energy; to put in place a
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