Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced this Wednesday September 20 during a press conference a change in the United Kingdom’s climate policy to achieve carbon neutrality. Here are the main measures announced.
Automotive
The ban on the sale of new cars running on gasoline or diesel is postponed from 2030 to 2035, “to give us more time to prepare” for the transition to electric vehicles, said Rishi Sunak.
After this date, the sale of these used vehicles will still be possible. The aim is to allow households to benefit from the expected drop in prices of electric vehicles in the coming years, Downing Street argued in a press release.
Boilers
The ban on oil, LPG or coal boilers for homes without access to the gas network will be postponed from 2026 to 2035.
Households will also have “more time” to change their old gas or other fossil fuel boilers with cleaner heating methods such as heat pumps.
“You will only have to make the change when you are forced to replace your boiler,” said the Prime Minister, adding that the bonus for the purchase of a heat pump will be increased by 50% to £7,500 (8,670 euros).
The UK has set a target of 600,000 heat pumps installed by 2028.
Energetic efficiency
The law providing that all housing must have at least level C energy efficiency to be able to be rented by 2028 will be “abandoned”. This measure aimed to reduce tenants’ energy bills but involved significant investments for owners.
“Some owners would have been forced to make very expensive improvements” and the addition risked ultimately being passed on to rents, “it’s simply bad”, argued Rishi Sunak, while the cost of loans and rents are currently soaring with rising interest rates.
Energy infrastructure
At the same time, the Prime Minister announced new rules to “accelerate” connections to the electricity network for energy production projects, based on the “first ready, first connected” rule, as well as to develop energy transport projects. energy considered priorities.
The government is putting on the table a “grant” of 150 million pounds (173 million euros) over five years to finance “disruptive green technology” development projects.