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Kemi Badenoch Declares UK Net Zero Target 'Impossible,' Prompting Political and Public Divide

The Conservative leader has launched a policy renewal program while facing backlash over her stance on the 2050 emissions goal.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch looks on after attending the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in London, Britain, March 10, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes/File Photo
Many voters still want the government to make tackling climate change a priority
Kemi Badenoch MP speaks during the Prime Minister's Questions at the House of Commons in London, Britain, February 12, 2025. © House of Commons/Handout via REUTERS /File Photo
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Overview

  • Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, has declared the UK's legally binding net zero by 2050 target 'impossible' without severe economic sacrifices.
  • Her announcement aligns the Conservatives with Reform UK's anti-net zero stance, raising questions about the party's political strategy and future policy direction.
  • Critics, including former Prime Minister Theresa May, environmental groups, and business leaders, argue that abandoning the target could harm economic growth, investment, and climate leadership.
  • Polling indicates strong public support for climate action, including among Conservative voters, suggesting potential electoral risks for the party in shifting away from the target.
  • Badenoch has yet to present detailed alternatives to the net zero target as part of her broader Conservative policy renewal initiative.