Hounslow Council responds to Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak's, recent U-turn on the government's climate policy.  

In the PM's Wednesday 22 September speech, he said the public could buy new diesel and petrol vehicles until 2035 - a delay of five years on the previous plan (2030).  

However, Mr Sunak insists that the net zero target for 2050 would remain in place.   

Hounslow Council leaders, Shantanu Rajawat and Katherine Dunne, have issued a joint statement in response to the PM's recent speech.   

The council leaders expressed deep disappointment with the government's plan, which they perceive as a step backward from the UK's commitment to achieving net zero.  

The statement said: "This week's announcement from the Government, which sets out plans to back track and weaken the UK's net zero ambitions, has left us perplexed and deeply disappointed."   

The council emphasised the urgency of the climate crisis, citing its severe consequences both locally in London and globally.  

The statement added: "The climate crisis is the single largest threat to our natural environment and societies, with severe consequences already on display in London, and across the globe. 

"As such, delivering a cleaner, greener, more sustainable borough will always be a top priority for Hounslow Council.  

Hounslow Council said they are taking proactive measures to combat climate change by striving to achieve net-zero carbon emissions within the borough by 2030.  

However, they stress that national-level action and funding are crucial to making a significant impact.  

The statement said: "We have called on Government on numerous occasions to take more incisive action, and each day the call becomes more urgent.  

"Each year we have new, and devastating examples of the climate emergency worldwide, whether they be extreme heat and wildfires, floods, or droughts.  

"These events should be serving as a stark reminder that governments should be accelerating climate action, and categorically should not be extending timelines, relaxing deadlines, and cutting down on resource."  

It added: "The delaying of the impending 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles and relaxing the migration from gas boilers to lower-carbon alternatives are just two examples from the latest announcement that demonstrate a clear commitment to watering down the UK's net zero policies.