Burnham reiterates commitment to net zero amid £30 million funding announcement
Andy Burnham has asserted his firm intention to achieve net zero by 2050 while unveiling nearly £30 million in funding for community-led renewable energy schemes, reports BritPanorama.
The announcement follows a parliamentary committee’s recommendation to the Government to drop the term “net zero”, citing its increasing unpopularity among the public.
In light of the rising climate concerns after a summer marked by unprecedented heat, Burnham acknowledged being “acutely aware” of public anxieties regarding climate change.
“The climate crisis is not a distant threat. It is here and with us now,” he stated in an opinion piece for a national publication. He emphasized that adapting to this reality will necessitate significant changes in “the way we travel, build homes and produce energy”.
Burnham described the green transition as the best opportunity to reindustrialise Britain. The funding for “People’s Power projects” aims to empower local communities to generate and manage their own energy, with Burnham stressing that “the only lasting way to bring down bills is to produce more of our own clean, renewable energy at home”.
He reiterated his goal of reaching net zero by 2050, saying, “I want Britain to believe in itself again.” This marks his most robust declaration on climate issues to date, following criticism for his perceived slow response to record heat, droughts, and wildfires this summer. Notably, the Met Office reported that 2026 was the UK’s warmest summer on record.
The Prime Minister is also facing increased scrutiny regarding decisions on controversial oil and gas projects in the North Sea, specifically the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields. Environmentalists are urging him to halt these projects, while others argue they could provide thousands of jobs and lower energy bills. Approving such projects could jeopardize his environmental commitments.
Following his remarks, Ami McCarthy, Greenpeace UK’s head of politics, commended Burnham’s stance, asserting that the UK should be determined to reach net zero by 2050 and claiming that the green transition is essential. She criticized political leaders who undermine climate science, stating that after a summer of severe heat and wildfires, the public understands climate change as a pressing issue that requires serious attention.
However, McCarthy questioned the Government’s hesitation over the Jackdaw and Rosebank projects, describing the situation as perplexing, given their potential to benefit a select few fossil fuel companies rather than the average utility consumer.
Burnham’s recent declarations on net zero emerged in the context of recommendations from the cross-party Commons Energy Security and Net Zero Committee to retire the phrase due to its diminished positive connotation amid prevailing misinformation.
The consensus on climate targets among political parties has significantly eroded, with both the Conservatives and Reform UK advocating for increased domestic fossil fuel extraction. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch mentioned the party’s shift away from supporting the net zero target for 2050, while Reform UK characterized it as “net stupid zero”.
The committee’s report highlighted that the term net zero has become a distraction and hindered effective communication regarding the energy transition. It suggested that dropping “net zero” from official communications would be beneficial.
Green entrepreneur Dale Vince, who has suggested abandoning the term since June, agreed with this recommendation, arguing that “net zero” implies deprivation rather than the benefits of transitioning to a green economy. “If we drop net zero we take away one of the right wing’s biggest attack lines,” he stated.
The evolving discourse surrounding environmental responsibility reflects a nation grappling with the imperative of balancing economic interests and ecological sustainability.
