The ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars could be delayed by five years as Rishi Sunak “prepares to water down his net zero pledges” as PM moves to a “pragmatic” approach to climate action

Rishi Sunak is reportedly ready to water down some of the government’s key net zero promises.

The Prime Minister is expected to use a speech this week to outline a change in his approach to climate action.

According to the BBCThis could include postponing the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 by five years to 2035.

There could also be a weakening of the promise to phase out the installation of new gas boilers by 2035.

Tonight it was reported that the Government could instead declare that it will only phase out 80 per cent of new gas boilers by this year.

Rishi Sunak is expected to use a speech this week to outline a change in his approach to climate action

It is reported that the Prime Minister could delay the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by five years to 2035

There could also be a weakening of the promise to phase out the installation of new gas boilers by 2035

The BBC said Whitehall documents suggested Mr Sunak is considering seven policy changes – although the Prime Minister will not abandon the Government’s overall commitment for the UK to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The Prime Minister has repeatedly spoken of taking a “pragmatic” approach to climate action following the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-elections.

The Tories scored a surprise victory in the July contest, largely thanks to a local backlash against the expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

After the by-election victory, Mr Sunak promised to “take a close look” at Green policies and their impact on Britons’ household budgets during the cost of living crisis.

He has also ordered a review of restricted traffic areas (LTNs) to show motorists that he is “on their side”.

As part of the 2050 net zero target, signed into law by Theresa May as Prime Minister, the UK is legally obliged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 100 percent compared to 1990 levels over the next 27 years.

In an expected speech later this week, the Prime Minister will reportedly argue that Britain has done too much on climate change and say other countries need to do more to do their part.

Any weakening of the government’s climate promises will draw a dividing line with Labor ahead of the general election.

It will also please those Tory MPs who have expressed fears about the impact of net zero commitments as Britons struggle with high energy and other household bills.

Yesterday, former prime minister Liz Truss called for a delay in implementing net zero promises such as banning new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030.

“Other environmental regulations that drive up the cost of living, such as enforcing replacement of gas and oil boilers, should also be abandoned,” she said.

Some Conservative backbenchers recently even called for a referendum on the overall net zero emissions pledge by 2050.

But any attempt by Mr Sunak to weaken climate action will anger other parts of the Tory party, including the One Nation group of MPs.

They have previously expressed fears that a watering down of net zero pledges would harm the Conservatives’ chances of winning over younger voters.

Commenting on today’s reports, Chris Skidmore, a Conservative former energy minister, warned that the Prime Minister could be making the “biggest mistake of his time in office”.

“If true, the decision will cost the UK jobs, foreign investment and future economic growth that could have come from engaging in the industries of the future,” he said.

“It will potentially destabilize thousands of jobs and cause investment to flow elsewhere.”

“And ultimately, the people who will pay the price will be households whose bills will remain higher due to inefficient fossil fuels and reliance on volatile international fossil fuel prices.”

“Rishi Sunak still has time to think again and not make the biggest mistake of his time in office by dooming the UK to miss the opportunity of the decade to deliver growth, jobs and future prosperity.”

A government spokesman said: “The government remains fully committed to its net zero commitments, with the UK having reduced emissions faster than any other G7 country.”

“Our approach will always be pragmatic and ensure costs are not passed on to hard-working families. “We will not comment on speculation.”