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Political reporter Becky Morton has reported on the Conservative Party’s pledge to revoke the UK’s Climate Change Act of 2008 and implement a new strategy focused on “cheap and reliable” energy sources. The original legislation, which set targets for reducing emissions, was initially introduced by the Labour government and later strengthened under former Tory Prime Minister Theresa May. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch justified the decision by claiming that Labour’s laws were restrictive, costly, and ineffective in reducing global emissions.
The Climate Change Act of 2008, championed by current Energy Secretary Ed Miliband during Gordon Brown’s government, originally aimed to slash carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. In 2019, under May’s leadership, this goal was recalibrated to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, effectively requiring the UK to offset all emissions produced. Despite bipartisan support for the legislation at the time, political consensus on the net zero target has since fractured.
Badenoch has previously expressed skepticism regarding the feasibility of reaching net zero emissions by 2050 and has vowed to prioritize the extraction of oil and gas from the North Sea. Reform UK has echoed similar sentiments, indicating their intent to abandon net zero targets if they come to power, citing increased energy costs and deindustrialization as consequences of existing policies. The Tories have criticized the Climate Change Act for compelling decisions that harm the economy and job market, emphasizing the need for growth, affordable energy, and environmental conservation.
In response to the Conservative Party’s proposed repeal of the Climate Change Act, Labour and the Liberal Democrats have condemned the move as economically detrimental and environmentally irresponsible. Labour’s Ed Miliband labeled the decision a betrayal of future generations and dismissed it as a desperate policy maneuver. The Liberal Democrats highlighted the economic opportunities presented by investing in renewable energy and stressed the importance of safeguarding the planet for upcoming generations. Environmental groups, such as the Wildlife and Countryside Link coalition, warned that without binding climate legislation, there is a risk of prioritizing short-term gains over long-term environmental sustainability, ultimately at the expense of nature and marginalized communities
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