The actions taken by the UK prime minister to roll back on the robust climate commitments that propelled Boris Johnson to power are dangerous to the world’s most vulnerable people, and also to the UK’s economy. At a time when the world is grappling with a climate emergency because of historical polluters such as the UK, strong and unwavering leadership is essential. To turn away from these responsibilities is not only reckless but also lacking leadership.

African countries are suffering climate-induced losses and damages because of historical polluters including the UK. Rich countries that amassed their wealth on the back of pollution should be responsible enough to contribute their fair share in finding solutions. This is not portrayed in the UK prime minister’s actions. Sunak’s actions are meant to delay climate action at a time when communities are losing lives and livelihoods because of climate-induced extreme weather events, which is deeply concerning.

Given the unprecedented climate challenges we are facing globally, leadership must prioritise climate action, adhere to climate commitments, and collaborate to mitigate the impacts of climate change, particularly on the world’s most vulnerable populations. The UK and the world cannot afford to have a leadership that is reckless such as Sunak’s at this time!

Isabel Cavelier, Bogotá, Colombia

Co-founder and former executive director of Transforma, a Bogotá-based climate and ecological transition think-tank

The UK has been a country with significant legitimacy internationally because of the stability of its ambition. It managed to maintain a coherent and stable public policy on climate change despite domestic political difficulties. It established itself as a leader in this field. However, this change shows an erratic government and erodes the UK’s legitimacy in leading the energy and economic transition to a sustainable future.

The policy shift comes at a time of high multilateral tension and as we enter the years of greatest urgency. We are coming into the middle of the decade that is critical for responding to climate change. This erratic decision shows an attitude that promotes a chaotic, disorderly transition, where everyone will end up losing. It erodes global confidence in the possibility of achieving international consensus on the need to make progress on the transition we so desperately need.

Malini Mehra, UK/India

Founder, Centre for Social Markets (UK/India)

This time last year, the UK was reeling from a bombshell mini-budget which broke the economy and the country’s reputation for sound economic management. Then prime minister Liz Truss’ £45 billion unfunded tax cuts for the wealthy spooked the markets and led to an unprecedented run on the pound and a collapse in the gilt market. Only intervention by the Bank of England saved the day. Liz Truss’ premiership, however, did not survive.

One year on, her successor Rishi Sunak has made another bombshell announcement, this time watering down the UK’s net zero policies to phase out polluting vehicles and gas boilers. Widely seen as a political move to create clear blue water between himself and the opposition Labour Party ahead of next year’s elections, Sunak has broken the UK’s strong cross-party consensus on ambitious climate action. According to the independent Climate Change Committee, the move will make it harder for the UK to meet its legally binding interim emissions reduction targets by 2030.

It is telling that the strongest criticism came from Sunak’s own Conservative Party, with Conservative politician and former COP26 president Alok Sharma – himself another son of Asian immigrants – leading the charge. Industry and investors have not been far behind in their condemnation of a move seen as destabilising what had been rising investment in the UK’s green economy.

The timing could not have been worse. Originally slated for release later in the week, media leaks forced the prime minister to make his announcement public on the day of the UN Climate Ambition Summit; an unintended snub eclipsing the UK’s positive announcement of a US$2 billion contribution to the Green Climate Fund. The UK had gone from climate hero to zero.

Sunak’s announcement, of course, was not intended for an international audience, but a domestic electorate facing a cost of living crisis. His personal approval has seen a slight bounce in the polls. But the British public remains split over the policy shift and overwhelmingly sceptical of his party on the environment.

Investors though may well be the final judge of whether Sunak’s net zero U-turn was his ‘Truss Moment’. With the US Inflation Reduction Act and the EU Green Industrial Plan offering stable, ambitious and long-term investment opportunities for their green transitions, Sunak’s gamble may prove an act of economic and climate self-harm for the UK.

This article was originally published on China Dialogue under a Creative Commons licence.