Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has ‘shattered a decades-long political consensus on climate change’ by suggesting Britain rips up its ‘impossible’ emissions deadline.
In speech delivered today, Tuesday 18th March, the Tory chief labelled the UK’s plan to reach net zero carbon output by 2050 as ‘impossible’. The target had been set by her own party during Theresa May’s tenure as Prime Minister.
Britain cannot deliver this ‘without a serious drop in our living standards or by bankrupting us’, Badenoch said. Rather than continuing the commitment – which many other countries have also agreed to – Downing Street should instead loosen requirements for a more gradual approach.
‘We’ve got to stop pretending to the next generation,’ said Badenoch. ‘We’ve got to stop government by press release. It’s exactly the reason that the political class has lost trust. The only way that we can regain it is to tell the unvarnished truth – net zero by 2050 is impossible.’
Notably, an alternative date by which carbon dioxide emissions should reach net zero, has not been proposed, opening her messaging up to criticism from those who say carbon neutral cannot work without a fixed timeline.
‘Kemi Badenoch’s demand to abandon the net zero target shatters a decades-long political consensus on climate and environmental action. Her remarks signal a shift toward a divisive, Trump-style politics that stalls progress on emissions reductions, falsely claiming it will ease financial burdens,’ said Dr Amy McDonnell, Campaign Director at the climate and nature campaign, Zero Hour.
‘The Climate Change Committee’s analysis shows that investing in net zero could deliver £40billion in annual savings by 2050 — benefits Badenoch’s Conservatives now seem willing to forsake. Instead of championing responsible investment for future prosperity, they’re chasing short-term appeasement of Reform voters,’ he added.
‘Abandoning’ net zero targets would fly in the face of a booming industry, with the related economy now growing 10% year-on-year: three-times the average speed at which other economic sectors are expanding. Billions in new projects are poised to come online in the next five years and proposed changes to how infrastructure is planned and delivered are set to tackle delays in connections to the National Grid which have hamstrung many schemes.
Britain is currently considered a world leader in renewables, carbon capture and storage, battery technologies, and initiatives to reduce emissions and air pollution. This stands in contrast to its woeful record on protecting biodiversity, nurturing wildlife, and preventing water and land pollution.
Badenoch’s comments also triggered anger within her own camp. Sam Hall, director of the Conservative Environmental Network, has warned party the leader may have ‘jumped the gun on her own policy review’ with the unsubstantiated claim that 2050 is a zero carbon pipedream.
‘This undermines the significant environmental legacy of successive Conservative governments, which provided the outline of a credible plan for tackling climate change,’ said Hall. ‘The important question now is how to build out this plan in a way that supports growth, strengthens security, and follows conservative, free market principles.’
Other green groups have warned about the potential for ‘electoral oblivion’ by pursuing an anti-net zero agendas. YouGov polling ahead of last summer’s General Election showed climate change and the environment were among the top five voting issues, only trailing behind cost of living, health, the UK economy, and immigration and asylum. However, recent surveys have shown concern around the impact on low-income households and living standards.
‘Throwing in the towel on our climate goals means giving up on making life better for British people now and in the future. With green industries growing three times faster than the rest of the UK economy, it also means giving up on the economic opportunity of the century,’ said Greenpeace UK’s climate team leader, Mel Evans. ‘A strong majority of people in this country are concerned about the climate crisis and want to see government action. Now is not the time to step back.’
Image: Marek Piwnicki / Unsplash
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