Prime minister Rishi Sunak, secretary of state Michael Gove and Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer have all hinted that net zero-focused targets could be reduced following last week’s by-elections.
Environmentalist fear that both political parties may put winning votes ahead of the planet after some surprise results in last week’s by-elections.
Elsewhere, Gove said the government was “asking too much too quickly” of landlords in the race to net zero. He cited EPC rules that stop landlords – residential and commercial – from renting out properties unless they meet minimum energy efficiency standards by 2028 and 2030 respectively.
EG research has shown that billions of pounds of rent could be at risk if landlords are not able to upgrade their properties to an EPC B by 2030.
