Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has announced plans to scrap Britain's landmark Climate Change Act and replace it with a strategy for "cheap and reliable" energy. The move would reverse legislation introduced by Labour in 2008 and later strengthened under Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May in 2019.
"Climate change is real. But Labour's laws tied us in red tape, loaded us with costs, and did nothing to cut global emissions," Badenoch said. She argued the policy would benefit cheap energy, economic growth and Britain's declining industrial sector.
The Conservatives claim the Act has forced governments to bring in "burdensome rules and regulations that have increased energy bills for families and businesses, eaten away at Britain's manufacturing sector, and contributed to a worsening in economic growth". They cited examples including the controversial Drax energy plant and costly legal challenges to developments.
Business groups warn of economic damage
The CBI, representing more than 150,000 businesses, warned the policy would "damage our economy". Energy UK chief executive Dhara Vyas said the Act provides the "legal bedrock that underpins billions of pounds of international investment in the UK".
Vyas cautioned that treating climate legislation as a "political football is a surefire way to scare off investors". The business warnings highlight concerns about the potential impact on sectors including the Humber and Teesside regions.
Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho MP said the Act is "forcing ministers to adopt policies which are making energy more expensive" and claimed this is "deindustrialising Britain, causing hardship for families".
Environmental groups condemn reversal
Environmental groups strongly condemned the announcement. Friends of the Earth chief executive Asad Rehman said the party "[turning] its back on the science" was "political suicide".
Simon Francis from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition argued there is "no way to lower bills or energy security by prolonging our dependence on gas". The criticism reflects broader environmental sector opposition to abandoning climate targets.
Professor Myles Allen from Oxford University suggested the Act may need updating rather than scrapping. "But you wouldn't announce you were going to scrap the NHS without explaining what you were going to replace it," he said.
What the Climate Change Act requires
The Climate Change Act requires the UK to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and produce five-yearly budgets to keep the country on track. Net zero means cutting emissions as much as possible and offsetting the rest.
The UK was the first country globally to establish legally binding long-term climate framework when Labour introduced the original legislation. United Nations scientists warn reaching net zero by 2050 is necessary to avoid severe climate damages including droughts, floods and ecosystem collapse.
Political support has been wavering, with Reform leader Nigel Farage claiming scrapping net zero targets would save £30 billion annually. Reform UK backs the Conservative proposal to abandon the current framework.
Conservative strategy unclear
The Conservatives have not provided figures to quantify the financial impact of scrapping the Act. It remains unclear how their plans to maximise oil and gas projects in the North Sea would lower bills or boost jobs, as fuels are sold on international markets and reserves are dwindling.
The party also has not detailed whether scrapping pollution rules for industry would generate enough economic benefits to compensate for potential losses if clean energy investors withdraw from the UK market.
Badenoch separately announced that her shadow cabinet will agree on Friday to a policy of leaving the European Convention on Human Rights, which she claims is also holding Britain back.
Sources used: "PA Media", "BBC", "Sky News", "City A.M." Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
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