No more petrol and diesel cars sales in the UK from 2030

Boris Johnson unveils a £12 billion Green Industrial Revolution plan whose implementation will create 250,000 jobs

The key areas on Boris Johnson’s green plan cover the renewable energy sector, nuclear power, and power restoration in the countryside. Some of the objectives seem hard to reach and has drawn praise and criticism in equal measure.

The new plan by the Prime Minister and the tories will create 250,000 jobs mainly focussed in North England, Midlands, Wales, and Scotland. Labour describes the plan as “deeply disappointing” in ambition and falling short of tackling the global climate emergency or the jobs crisis due to Covid-19. 

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Offshore wind power production will be quadrupled in a decade given the price of offshore wind prices has drastically dropped spurring a rush in construction of wind farms. Britain scrapped new subsidies on offshore wind farms scrapping the green climate change levy in 2015. 

Greenpeace had positive words for the new plan steps aimed at tackling a climate emergency describing it as a “historic turning point on climate action.” They however expressed displeasure in the prime minister’s fixation on “speculative solutions” like nuclear power and hydrogen fuels. The programme will cost downing street £12bn, of which £8bn in new funding. 

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Commitments under the new plan

• The plan advocates for a ban on the sale of combustion engines by 2030, offering grants for electric vehicles, and charging stations. Selective sales of hybrid cars and vans will continue till 2035. 
• A plan to quadruple offshore wind power by 2030 to 40GW will provide enough power to power homes across the UK. This is enough to power every home in the UK and support 60,000 jobs. 
• Shift to hydrogen power with the promise of having a town solely powered by the fuel by end of the decade. Five gigawatts of low carbon energy production ability by 2030 for transport, industry, and homes.
• An investment of £525m in nuclear power relying on next-generation small generators aimed at supporting 10,000 jobs.
• Insulate homes and public buildings with a £1 billion fund through the existing public sector decarbonization scheme and green homes grant. 600,000 heat pumps are to be installed by 2028. 
• Initiative to plant 30,000 hectares of trees annually.
• Drive to promote cycling, walking, and use of public transport.
• Transform London into the global center of green finance. 
• Extra £200m channeled to carbon capture initiatives.
• Green energy support in the maritime and aviation sectors.

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The United Kingdom will host the COP26 UN summit an essential round of talks aimed at tackling climate change since the Paris Agreement in 2015. Hopefully, the new initiative policy changes and investments will see the country meet its net-zero emissions target by 2050.

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