POLITICS
Government not serious about climate pledges, says Alok Sharma
Cop26 president speaks out as bill to increase oil and gas production is delayed
Alok Sharma was president of the Cop26 climate change conference when it was held in Glasgow in 2021
ROBERT PERRY FOR THE TIMES
Rishi Sunak is giving the impression to the world that the UK is “rolling back from climate action”, a former cabinet minister claimed as a vote on a government plan to maximise North Sea oil and gas production was delayed.
Sir Alok Sharma, the former business secretary and president of the Cop26 climate change summit in Glasgow in 2021, said that he could not support the plan for an annual licensing round for new fields, warning that the “continued expansion” of reserves was “inconsistent with our climate commitments”.
He was backed by the government’s former net zero tsar, Chris Skidmore, who has resigned as an MP in protest at the government’s plans.
However, a vote on the proposed legislation was put back after previous statements
