Guest essay by Eric Worrall

UK PM Boris “Lockdown Party” Johnson’s deteriorating political fortunes are worrying climate activists, who are concerned his successor might be more worried about trimming household bills than hitting net zero.

Johnson’s political weakness leaves climate agenda at risk, say campaigners

Analysts fear government’s commitment to net zero is facing most severe test yet as PM comes under increasing pressure

Fiona Harvey
Environment correspondent
Wed 12 Jan 2022 05.08 AEDT

The government’s climate agenda is under threat as Boris Johnson’s popularity slumps, according to green campaigners who work closely with the Conservative party.

As the prime minister faces further lockdown party allegations, and angry Conservative MPs seek answers over energy price rises and the cost of living crisis, analysts fear the government’s commitment to net zero is facing its most severe test yet.

Tom Burke, a co-founder of the E3G green thinktank and a veteran government adviser, said: “Johnson has been the standard bearer for net zero, and lots of people were happy about that. There is now a sustained assault from the right on net zero. They see the prime minister’s political weakness, and they see net zero as a flank on which to attack him.”

Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, is meeting backbench Tory MPs this week to calm fears that the squeeze on incomes caused by rising inflation and soaring gas prices will turn away voters, particularly in “red wall” seats in the north of England. He is under pressure from vocal quarters to abandon green measures such as carbon levies, which play a small role in energy bills.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/11/boris-johnson-climate-action-net-zero-conservative-party

In his frantic struggle to survive, Boris Johnson has put his weight behind populist measures like eliminating the mandatory BBC license fee, which would in itself be a major blow against climate activism, by exposing the BBC to consumer choice.

I think this political farce is going to become a lot funnier before Boris Johnson loses his job. I look forward to writing about all the costly green initiatives BoJo unhesitatingly dumps overboard, in a frantic but futile effort to save his own skin.