Facts

During the C4 leadership debates in July, Rishi Sunak claimed that he cared about climate and the environment and that he is "committed" to it. 

As an MP,  first elected in 2015, Sunak has usually voted against measures to lower emissions.

As finance minister from 2020 to 2022, he cut funding for key energy efficiency measures

In March 2021, cuts by Sunak as Chancellor of the Exchequer led to the abandonment of a $1.7 billion scheme to insulate U.K. homes.

In October 2021, on the eve of the COP26, Sunak announced a plan to halve taxes on domestic flights - a move that would encourage air travel and boost its emissions.

He also cut the U.K.’s foreign aid budget from 0.7% to 0.5% of national income, shaving millions off the country’s funds to help poorer countries adapt to climate change

As Prime Minister, he ejected the Cop26 president, Alok Sharma, and the climate minister, Graham Stuart, from the cabinet.

He almost did not attend COP27 and advised King Charles against attending. 

He is pressing ahead with the opening of a new coal mine in Cumbria. A move which has been branded "absolutely indefensible" by the UK government's independent climate adviser, the chair of the Climate Change Committee and the former Conservative minister Lord Deben. Ex chief scientific advisor Sir David King said that  "The decision to go ahead with a new coal mine in Cumbria is an incomprehensible act of self-harm.

“This action by a leading developed economy sets exactly the wrong example to the rest of the world."

Verdict

Rishi Sunak is not and never has been “committed”, as he told Tory members during the leadership campaign,  to climate and the environment. He was deceiving Tory members.

We emailed Rishi Sunak’s office and Downing Street offering them the chance to respond. The email was received, but no reply. 

Additional Note It is distasteful that Rishi Sunak invoked his daughters to give credibility to his false claim that he was “committed” to climate and the environment.