King Charles III Announces Net Zero Rollback In First King’s Speech

King Charles III announced Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s net zero rollback as he addressed Parliament Tuesday in his first State Opening as monarch to set out the government’s policy agenda for the year ahead.

It is King Charles’ first speech since assuming the throne last year and the first of Sunak’s tenure. The speech is penned by the government and outlines proposed legislation for the new parliamentary session.

Despite his long-time personal commitment to green causes and fighting climate change, the King held poise as he read the government would u-turn on its environmental pledges.

“Legislation will be introduced to strengthen the United Kingdom’s energy security, and reduce reliance on volatile international energy markets and hostile foreign regimes,” His Majesty said.

“This Bill will support the future licensing of new oil and gas fields, helping the country to transition to net zero by 2050 without adding undue burdens on households.”

In September, Sunak received some backlash when he said he’d pare back on several key green policies.
One day later, however, in a speech to the French Senate, King Charles encouraged collaboration between nations to “answer more efficiently” the challenges of the “worldwide emergency on climate” and underlined the issue as an “existential” one.