Ahead of the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, Kemi Badenoch has been attempting to close the gap between the Tories and Reform by ensuring their policies are more aligned than ever.
In particular, she is taking aim at two targets she sees as irritants: the European Convention on Human Rights (which she would exit), and the Climate Change Act (which she would abolish).
Following an amendment in 2019, The Climate Change Act (2008) sets a legally binding target for the UK to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
Speaking to the Spectator, she said: ‘Ministers have to do lots of stupid things just to hit the target, even if they are not cutting [worldwide] emissions or even if we can’t afford them or they’re impractical. We have to hit a certain number of heat pumps to meet the target, but at the rate we’re going, it’ll take us about 300 years.’
She went to claim that she is not a climate sceptic but claims that Net Zero is ‘nothing more than a slogan… We need to do what we can sensibly to tackle climate change but we cannot do it alone. If other countries aren’t doing it, then us being the goody-two-shoes of the world is not actually encouraging anyone to improve.’
The Act also established the Climate Change Committee, an independent body that advises the government on emissions targets, recommends carbon budgets and monitors progress towards the UK’s climate targets. The CCC, Badenoch claims: ‘wants us to eat insects and less meat.’
She continued on X (formerly Twitter) this morning: ‘It’s time to stop the deindustrialisation of Britain. We can protect our environment and preserve nature without crushing our economy.
‘The Conservatives have a plan to make economic growth the priority, bring down energy bills and put more money in your pocket. Our priority must be cheap abundant energy and economic growth – while protecting our natural landscapes. The Climate Change Act stands in the way. A future Conservative Government will replace it.’
Needless to say, Badenoch’s utterings have prompted immediate response.
Asad Rehman, chief executive of Friends of the Earth, said: ‘Kemi Badenoch’s desperate attempt to sound like Donald Trump on climate change is taking her party further away from the interests of future generations, businesses, and the needs of ordinary people.
‘Millions of lives are already being ruined and nature is being pushed to the brink. An act of political vandalism of this scale will not be easily forgiven or forgotten. For a mainstream political party to turn its back on the science in a desperate race to the bottom with those being bankrolled by discredited billionaires and dirty business, who want to stop climate action because it threatens their profits, is political suicide.
‘Climate change is not some theoretical threat, we can see it out of our windows, in our flooded communities, in the excess deaths from extreme heat and in the supermarkets with rocketing food price increases.
‘Far from being the party of business, it will position the Conservative Party as has-beens luddites alongside a motely alliance of climate denialists, conspiracy theorists and far right extremists who want to ignore the killer floods, droughts, storms and wildfires that are threatening our future.’
Dr Amy McDonnell, Campaign Director of the Zero Hour climate and nature campaign, said: ‘Kemi Badenoch’s plan to scrap the Climate Change Act is an incendiary break from decades of cross-party consensus, and a reckless turn toward Trump-style climate denial politics. Dressing up fossil-fuel expansion as “cheap and reliable energy” is wilfully misleading when renewables are already the most secure long term option.
‘This move would gamble with the economy, public health and national security. Tearing up binding climate law won’t cut bills, it will deepen our dependence on volatile global markets and leave communities exposed. We must ensure climate and nature are hardwired into every policy decision, with science, not short-term politics, guiding the way forward.’
Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of The Rivers Trust said: ‘Climate change is the greatest strategic threat to our rivers, the economy and society. We should be doubling down on our contribution to mitigate that threat, not tearing up the centrepiece of the legislative framework. We cannot afford to play petty politics with the planet’s future. Our rivers and landscapes can be a powerful ally in this, protection for our natural assets should be strengthened not stripped away.’