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Environmental activists backed Zak Goldsmith in attacking Rishi Sunak’s climate policy, accusing him of making the policy “breakfast for dogs”.
Lord Goldsmith resigned as environment and foreign affairs minister on Friday, accusing Sunak of being “totally indifferent” to climate change.
A very public altercation then erupted between the two over whether Lord Goldsmith’s resignation was in fact due to his criticism of the parliamentary ‘partisan’ inquiry.
He was named in a new report by the Privileges Commission released Thursday, which said that Boris Johnson had taken congressional action over his 10th COVID-19 offense. It accused him of trying to interfere in the commission’s investigation into whether he had misled them.
Mr Sunak was forced to defend his “proud” track record at a Downing Street press conference on the NHS, saying Britain would continue to play a “global leadership role” on environmental issues.
Despite the quarrel, environmental groups were vocal in their support of Sunak’s criticism.
Sean Spiers, executive director of the Green Alliance think tank, said: I“Zak Goldsmith has been a tireless and influential minister for the environment for many years, but there is only so much a minister can do without strong support from the top.
“Under Rishi Snak, that is no longer the case. Climate and nature are for voters, but not one of the prime minister’s five priorities, and the UK is losing its role as climate change leader. Yes, in the words of Lord Goldsmith, the prime minister appears to be “absolutely indifferent”. it has to change. “
Earlier this year, Mr. Sunak made five promises to his people, referring to health, the economy and immigration, but not the environment at all.
British Greenpeace also accused the prime minister of neglecting public priorities.
Rebecca Newsom, the group’s political director, said: I: “Rishi Snak is making a climate-friendly dog breakfast, but even those around him no longer have the stomach to act like it’s a three-Michelin-star dinner.
“This week alone, the government’s climate change adviser, a former prime minister and a resigning foreign minister all denounced Sunak as a failure to tackle climate change. Whether pushing for more oil and gas drilling or ignoring a crucial global summit to increase funding for climate-vulnerable countries, there are few areas where the Sunak government has not moved too slowly or regressed. .
“People deserve better credit than the prime minister’s climate change woes that lead to colder homes, higher utility bills and lost job creation opportunities. If we don’t figure it out, it will be the Conservatives who will pay the price in the next election.”
One of Lord Goldsmith’s allegations was that Sunak chose to attend a party hosted by Rupert Murdoch rather than the important climate summit in Paris.
Other groups cited the government’s failure to stay on track to meet its own legally-binding carbon emissions reduction targets.
Ed Mathieu, head of campaigns at climate think tank E3G, said: I: “Zach Goldsmith has been an environmental advocate at the core of government. His resignation is a painful indictment of Rishi Sunak for not prioritizing action to protect climate and nature.
“This follows the release of the most critical report this week by the Climate Change Commission since it was established in 2008, which said the lack of action on He identified it as a lack of leadership from the Prime Minister: Climate change poses an existential threat, and leaders who cannot understand it have no right to govern.”