The UK Government has unveiled plans to cancel or pause core part of the country’s climate strategy, potentially putting the net-zero target out of reach. Specifically, the ban on the sale new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles (petrol and diesel cars and vans) was extended to 2035 from the previous deadline of 2030. The zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandate remains, requiring 22% of vehicle sales to be electric from January 2024, rising to 80% in 2030 and 100% in 2035, with penalties for manufacturers who fail to meet targets. Moreover, the ban on oil, liquid petroleum gas (LPG), and new coal heating in off-gas-grid homes was pushed back to 2035 from 2026. In addition, planned regulations for minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties (MEES) were scrapped. Finally, the process for signing off on carbon budgets will be modified to involve more extensive parliamentary debate, ensuring greater public scrutiny, and a "first-come-first-served" approach to grid connections will be replaced to prioritise projects that are ready to connect.
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