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🗞️ Driving the news: UK's Chancellor Rishi Sunak stated that the 2050 net-zero target needs to be achieved pragmatically
• Despite criticism from environmentalists and his own MPs, Sunak insisted on the future necessity of fossil fuels
🔭 The context: This comment comes amid a climate commitment backlash within the Conservative Party
• The Prime Minister was recently criticized by Lord Goldsmith, who accused him of "apathy" towards climate change
• Sunak has been under pressure to review the party's green policies after their Uxbridge by-election victory, attributed to anger over London's Ultra Low Emissions Zone (Ulez)
🌎 Why does it matter for the planet: Sunak's stance reflects the tension between environmental and economic priorities, potentially slowing down the pace of transition to renewable energy sources
• The UK's commitment to reach net-zero by 2050 while continuing to use fossil fuels raises questions about how these seemingly contradictory goals can be achieved
⏭️ What's next: As part of the transition to electric vehicles, car manufacturers will be required from January next year to ensure that 22% of sold vehicles are zero-emission, otherwise, they could face fines
• Some manufacturers have called for a softening of the rules, suggesting debates around environmental policies will continue
💬 One quote: "If your approach to climate change is to say that no one should go on holiday, no one should go on a plane, I think you are completely and utterly wrong" (Rishi Sunak)
📈 One stat: Sunak announced the granting of 100 new North Sea oil and gas licenses and support for a carbon capture project in Scotland
• Critics argue that these decisions undermine the UK's commitment to its climate targets
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