After UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak decided to water down essential climate change policies, former US vice president and one of the world's foremost climate crisis advocates, Al Gore, called the move "shocking and disappointing” and “not what the world needs from the United Kingdom" in an interview with CNN. 

"I find it shocking and really disappointing … I think he’s done the wrong thing. I’ve heard from many of my friends in the UK, including a lot of Conservative party members who have used the phrase, 'utter disgust'", Gore said, adding: "And some of the young people there feel as if their generation has been stabbed in the back. It’s really shocking to me."

The former VP even suggested Sunak's position be questioned because of that backtrack.

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The changes occurred to the policies set by the UK critical to meet net zero emissions by 2050, a legally binding target. For example, the ban on selling new cars with combustion engines has been pushed back to 2035 (five extra years), removing gas boilers in homes has been pushed back as well, and now both homeowners and landlords are no longer required to meet energy efficiency targets in homes with insulation.

Sunak justified his action by claiming it would save families money while still conforming to the net zero target.

Mohamed Adow, director of Power Shift Africa, said, "This action from Rishi Sunak is a disgusting betrayal of vulnerable people around the world, not to mention economic vandalism upon his own country."

The wrong message to send

Advisor to the UK’s team at the time it hosted COP26 climate conference, Ruth Davis, said, "I think it’s fair to say that the international business and security communities here in New York are baffled."

"Rishi Sunak has in one go alienated his strategic allies, exposed his citizens to higher costs from continuing gas dependence, and signalled that the UK is not a reliable place to invest in clean technologies."

Senior science and climate advisor at the time of the Barack Obama administration, Kelly Sims Gallagher, claims that Sunak is in a "net zero trap" by vowing a hefty goal and failing to achieve it. 

"I always use the UK as an example of how this can be done: it demonstrated it can cut emissions while still growing economically,” she said, adding, “If the UK falters in this, it would call into question whether other countries could do the same."

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