The announcement has drawn criticism from environmental campaigners who argue that stopping all new fossil fuel exploitation is essential for the country to decarbonise by mid-century.

The UK government is expected to approve the development of Rosebank, a large undeveloped oil and gas field near Scotland's Shetland Isles, as well as other North Sea sites imminently.

Sunak believes that banning North Sea oil and gas would be harmful to the country's energy security and would strengthen the hands of dictators like Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Prime Minister argued that his approach is to support the UK's energy industry, and suggested that not exploiting new UK oil and gas reserves would risk "the lights going out" in Britain.

Sunak also hinted that expanding a scheme taxing the use of the most polluting vehicles in London could be a factor in the narrow victory of the Conservative party in a recent by-election in the northwest London seat vacated by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Critics argue that Sunak's views are out of touch with the public's concern for the environment, and that his government's lukewarm support for the country's ambitious net zero agenda is disappointing.

However, the Prime Minister maintains that his government is committed to reaching net zero, and that they will be "pragmatic and proportionate" in their approach.

In a move that has sparked concerns among some environmentalists, the UK government has announced plans to review its net-zero emissions target, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

The move comes as several pressure groups, claiming to represent millions of Britons, have threatened to mobilize if the government water downs its net-zero policies.

The groups, including the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the RSPB, wrote to Chancellor Rishi Sunak, urging him to "leave the environment and our climate in a better state".

They also warned that any weakening of the target would be "a betrayal of the next generation".

Sunak, who has faced criticism for his frequent use of helicopters and planes for travel, insisted that he wants to achieve carbon neutrality while being "pragmatic and proportionate".

He acknowledged the current economic reality, adding that he does not want to "unnecessarily add costs or hassle" to people's lives.

However, some experts have expressed concerns that a review of the net-zero target could be used as a pretext to water down environmental policies.

They point out that the UK has already missed several emissions reduction targets and that a more ambitious approach is needed to tackle the climate crisis.

The UK is not alone in facing criticism for its efforts to tackle climate change.

This week, the United Nations warned that countries are moving too slow in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are causing global temperatures to rise.

The UN called for immediate action, including a shift away from fossil fuels and a massive increase in renewable energy production.

As the world grapples with the impacts of climate change, including more frequent natural disasters and rising sea levels, the need for urgent action has never been clearer.

While some countries, including the UK, have set ambitious targets for reducing emissions, others are lagging behind.

It remains to be seen whether the UK government will deliver on its promise to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and whether other countries will follow suit.