The U.K. government's decision to weaken some of its climate commitments marks a departure from the country's traditional approach to the energy transition, which may backfire politically while adding uncertainty for businesses and investors. U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced Sept. 20 plans to roll back a number of key green energy policies, promising a ''more pragmatic, proportionate and realistic approach'' to meet the country's 2050 net-zero target. The prime minister justified the decision by arguing that his government remains committed to the country's climate pledges but will pursue them without imposing unnecessary financial burdens on British households and consumers. Changes include delaying a ban on the sale of new combustion engine vehicles from 2030 to 2035 and weakening a plan to phase out the installation of new gas boilers by 2035. He also pledged to scrap energy efficiency targets for the residential building sector and to not impose taxes...
