Conservative peer Alok Sharma has criticised party leader Kemi Badenoch's plan to scrap world-leading climate legislation, warning it risks future investment and jobs in the UK. The former minister urged his party not to "squander" its climate legacy "for the sake of short-term political expediency".
Lord Sharma served as Cop26 president and business, energy and industrial strategy secretary under Boris Johnson. He now chairs the UK's Transition Finance Council and represents a significant voice within Conservative climate policy circles.
The Conservatives announced plans to repeal the Climate Change Act, introduced by Labour in 2008. The legislation committed the UK to cut climate emissions by 80% by 2050, with five-yearly carbon budgets to track progress toward the goal.
Conservative climate legacy at stake
Under Theresa May's premiership, the Conservatives increased the Act's ambition to cutting greenhouse gases to zero overall by 2050. Lord Sharma argued this "strong and consistent commitment" attracted "many tens of billions of pounds of private sector investment and accompanying jobs".
"This is a story of British innovation, economic growth, skilled jobs and global leadership - not just a matter of environmental stewardship," Sharma said. "Turning our back on this progress now risks future investment and jobs into our country, as well as our international standing."
He warned that voters, particularly younger people and those in marginal seats, "expect serious, coherent and forward-looking policies from the Conservative Party". Sharma described the party's climate record as "one of global leadership" that should not be abandoned.
Party defends energy-first approach
Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho defended the Conservative plan, telling Sky News that the government needs to "put cheap electricity first". She argued the Climate Change Act forces politicians to make decisions that make Britons poorer.
"One of the biggest problems that the country faces is that our electricity prices are too high," Coutinho said. "Some of that is because of the Climate Change Act, which creates this very rigid budget and makes ministers choose these decisions, which are going to make them poorer."
Acknowledging the Conservatives introduced the net zero target, Coutinho said her party needs to "look at things where we think we were in the wrong position". She claimed high electricity costs cause "huge harm to families and businesses" and put people off adopting electric vehicles and home heating.
Political divisions deepen
Kemi Badenoch explained her position, saying: "We want to leave a cleaner environment for our children, but not by bankrupting the country. Climate change is real. But Labour's laws tied us in red tape, loaded us with costs, and did nothing to cut global emissions."
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband (Labour) called the move "desperate" and said it would be an "economic disaster". The Liberal Democrats said it showed the Tories were only interested in "following Farage", referring to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage's pledge to scrap net zero targets.
The Climate Change Act was world-first climate legislation when introduced, though many countries have since followed suit. Scientists warn the world must cut emissions rapidly to zero to prevent global temperatures rising beyond 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, beyond which severe climate impacts will occur.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
