Environmental Groups Warn Andy Burnham Over High-Carbon Policies
Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth urge Prime Minister Andy Burnham to reject oil drilling and airport expansion to avoid jeopardizing net zero goals.
Environmental organizations Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth have warned Prime Minister Andy Burnham that his government risks sleepwalking into a climate disaster. In a joint letter, the groups argue that a series of high-carbon policies could release 402 million tonnes of CO2 over 25 years, threatening the United Kingdom's net zero commitments.
The campaigners specifically cited the potential approval of drilling at the Rosebank oilfield, the expansion of Heathrow airport, the reduction of electric vehicle targets, and cuts to heat pump grants. While the government recently approved drilling at the Jackdaw gasfield, it now faces pressure from airlines to expand Heathrow—a move supported by Chancellor John Healey—and from car manufacturers to water down 2030 EV mandates.
Chancellor Healey is also expected to reduce funding for the boiler upgrade scheme in his upcoming budget. A spokesperson for the Government of the United Kingdom denied that reindustrialization would compromise climate obligations, pointing to 110 billion pounds in clean power investment over the last two years.
