Yesterday, we all saw the sensational headlines about Kemi Badenoch’s net zero speech. Intrigued, last night I took the time to watch her speech and the subsequent media questions in full.
Thereโs no doubt that Kemi is bright, articulate, and politically astute. She made some valid points about the Conservative Partyโs need to reinvent itself with well-thought-out, detailed policies following their rejection by the electorate at the last election.
However, in her speech, she criticised past administrationsโboth Labour and Conservativeโfor implementing policies without sufficient detail. Then, she made a bold claim: achieving net zero by 2050 is โimpossibleโ without a major drop in living standards or economic ruin. This target, letโs not forget, was set by former Tory Prime Minister Theresa May in 2019.
Kemi did acknowledge the reality of climate change and the need for a transition to a cleaner future. She announced a programme to bring together the UKโs best minds to map out a path to net zero. But from my perspective, this move appears to be a strategic political play aimed at winning over voters and outflanking Reform UKโs stance on net zero.
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While this approach might score political points, it does little to serve the UKโs long-term interests. The uncertainty it introduces could disrupt the investments and strategic plans that businesses, organisations, and individuals across the UK have already made to decarbonise and support our transition to net zero.
If we fail to address climate change, we face serious consequences in the UK, which include:
A projected ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ 1.5% ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฒ 2050ย under a high-emissions scenario (G20 Climate Risk Assessment).
Flooding damage averaging ยฃ1 ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐ซ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ซ.
A 74% increase in drought frequency, threatening agriculture and food security.
Rising heat-related deaths, particularly affecting vulnerable populations.
On the flip side, the UKโs legally binding net zero commitment has positioned us as a global leader in the green services sectorโcreating jobs, driving innovation, and offering enormous export potential.
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My hope is that once the immediate political manoeuvring is done, Kemi Badenoch and her team will return to the table with a clear, actionable plan to transition the UK to a cleaner, more sustainable future. This isnโt just about hitting a targetโitโs about securing economic growth, environmental stability, and a better quality of life for our future generations.
If youโd like some help to sense check, start or accelerate your organisation’s net zero carbon journey and ensure your business is best positioned for a financially and environmentally sustainable future, then get in contact with John OโBrien LCMBโs founder and MD for a no obligation chat on e: [email protected] m: 07711 032137 or t: 01295 576 000.
John O’Brien
Founder and MD
