Kemi Badenoch is set to announce that the Conservative Party will drop its commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, breaking a longstanding cross-party consensus on climate policy. In a speech on Tuesday, the Tory leader will argue that the legally binding target is “impossible” and that current policies are failing while driving up energy costs.
Badenoch will say: “We’ve got to stop pretending to the next generation… net zero by 2050 is impossible.” She will add that the UK is “falling between two stools – too high costs and too little progress.” The move marks a significant shift from the policy enacted by former Prime Minister Theresa May in 2019.
The announcement has drawn criticism from within her own party. Sam Hall, director of the Conservative Environment Network, called it “a mistake” that undermines the environmental legacy of previous Conservative governments. Greenpeace UK’s Mel Evans said throwing in the towel on climate goals means giving up on economic opportunities, as green industries grow three times faster than the rest of the economy.
Badenoch’s speech launches a multi-year policy review, with shadow cabinet members asked to rebuild party platforms from scratch. She has already signalled a rightward shift on immigration, tax, and climate. However, some Tory MPs are concerned that the lengthy review cedes political momentum to Labour. Former leader Iain Duncan Smith urged colleagues to focus on the government rather than internal battles.
