Kemi Badenoch on Net Zero

Kemi Badenoch has established a strong position against the UK's legally binding Net Zero by 2050 target, asserting that it is economically unachievable without bankrupting the country and collapsing living standards. She has publicly stated that meeting the goal is impossible and criticized the Climate Change Act 2008, which mandates the target, claiming it lacks a proper plan and imposes catastrophic costs on British families and businesses. Her stance is framed around prioritizing economic growth and cheaper, reliable energy over the current climate commitment. She pledged that if the Conservatives win the next election, she would repeal the Climate Change Act, replacing it with an energy strategy focused on affordability first.

Her intervention breaks a long-standing political consensus on climate action, a consensus that she previously supported as a minister in a former government. Critics argue that her claims about the costs are unsubstantiated and ignore the benefits of the transition, such as reduced fossil fuel import costs and avoided climate damage. While she acknowledges climate change is happening, her focus shifts to criticizing the perceived inflexibility and expense of the current 2050 goal, arguing that the UK's unilateral action will have minimal global impact while harming its own economy.