Joe Biden’s accession to the White House and the US’s subsequent rejoining of the Paris Climate Agreement has given the international effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions a significant boost. As the host of this year’s climate talks, the UK organisers will have breathed a particular sigh of relief. But the UK’s plan to achieve a 68-per-cent drop in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and net-zero emissions by 2050, risks provoking a domestic political backlash. Hitting these targets will require a significant increase in the domestic price of carbon, or much stricter regulation — red meat to populists looking for a new platform. SponsoredSceptical voices will only grow louder if UK climate measures are perceived to damage the competitiveness of British companies.

Source: The Times February 12, 2021 00:00 UTC