The consultation, launched on Friday, could lower the proportion of new cars required to be fully electric in 2030 from the current 80% target to 70%, 60% or 50%. The review comes as Burnham publicly acknowledged that climate change is contributing to the severe conditions affecting parts of England and Wales.
EV Mandate Comes under Review as Climate Pressures Intensify
According to The Guardian, the government opened its consultation only hours after the UK recorded its hottest day of the year so far and its fifth hottest day on record. Five heatwaves have affected the country this summer, while scientists have said that global heating caused by carbon emissions has almost certainly worsened the extreme conditions.
In the West Midlands, 19 homes were destroyed, about 200 hectares of land were burned and dozens of people were taken to hospital after grassfires. Burnham visited Stourbridge, where some of the damage occurred, and said the country could not accept such conditions as a “new normal.” He linked the fires with wider weather impacts, pointing to drought across much of England and Wales, crop failures and hundreds of wildfires faced by firefighters in recent weeks.
The government also introduced a temporary ban on disposable barbecues and activated the national alert system to issue safety guidance. Burnham said firefighting aircraft would be commissioned, while a new fire minister was appointed as the government responded to the growing wildfire threat.
At the same time, ministers defended the review of electric vehicle rules on economic grounds. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the targets should remain practical and support British industry, while maintaining that the long-term objective had not changed.
The automotive industry argues that the zero emission vehicle mandate is placing too much pressure on manufacturers by forcing them to discount electric cars. Industry representatives have also warned about possible job losses and factory closures if the regulations remain unchanged.
Campaigners Warn Weaker Rules Could Raise Emissions
Environmental groups argue that reducing the electric vehicle targets would make it harder for Britain to meet its climate commitments. According to the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, cutting the 2030 requirement to 50% could reduce electric car sales by as many as 5.8 million vehicles.
The existing mandate requires carmakers to increase their share of fully electric vehicle sales each year, rising from 33% in 2026 to 80% in 2030. New petrol and diesel car sales are then scheduled to end in 2035.
Electric car sales in the UK have risen by 29% this year. According to the Climate Change Committee, the shift to electric vehicles is expected to make the single largest contribution to reducing UK carbon pollution over the next decade.
Campaigners have also criticised Burnham’s position on North Sea oil and gas. His government must decide whether to permit new drilling at the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields, while a consultation on Rosebank is due to close on Monday.
Greenpeace UK has opposed both weaker EV rules and new fossil fuel extraction. The government, meanwhile, says its approach must balance emissions reductions with industrial pressures, leaving the final direction of both policies under close scrutiny.
