Britain cannot afford to abandon the Climate Change Act

Wera Hobhouse MP

June 1, 2026

Politics

Calls from the Conservatives and Reform to scrap the 2008 Climate Change Act are the latest proof that the once-strong political consensus on tackling climate change and achieving Net Zero has fractured.

When passed, the Climate Change Act was rightly viewed as a landmark piece of legislation. The Act originally set a legally binding target to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050, compared with 1990 levels. In 2019, that ambition was strengthened to reach Net Zero by 2050. For many years, parties of all colours have viewed protecting our environment and safeguarding the planet as our responsibility. Now, Net Zero and climate change policy have become the site of a divisive culture war; one that is endangering the progress we have made and the work we still need to do.

Despite the scientific consensus remaining unchanged - that urgent action is needed to limit global warming - climate and renewable energy policies have become increasingly politicised. Reform and the Conservatives have both pledged to scrap the Climate Change Act if they win the next election, blaming Net Zero for increasing people’s bills, damaging our economy, and risking our energy security. Both parties seem to think recent global instability in the energy markets, brought on by the US-Iran war, strengthens their case. They argue that international crises expose the vulnerability of our energy system and demonstrate the need for us to rely more on our own fossil fuels. Their answer is simple: more drilling in the North Sea.

Yet these arguments ignore the undeniable harm the climate crisis is causing. Heatwaves are claiming more and more lives every year in the UK, as well as damaging the farmland and environment we rely on to feed the country. Species are being pushed to the brink of extinction, and whole communities are being decimated by severe weather events. Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year from undernutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress alone. Ignoring this evidence by continuing to double down on fossil fuels is an act of cruelty that will only leave future generations to suffer.

Fossil fuels, not renewables, are driving up energy bills and weakening the UK’s energy security. The US-Iran war triggered the worst energy crisis in history, sending oil and gas prices soaring on international markets. This forced UK households and businesses to shoulder the exorbitant cost of decisions made by foreign powers. It’s clear that relying on fossil fuels leaves us at the mercy of forces beyond our control.

We must change the narrative that the choice lies between Net Zero and economic growth. Quote

Despite what Reform and the Conservatives say, drilling oil from our own seabed does not magically change this reality. Oil drilled from the North Sea will still be sold on the international market at international prices. Homegrown renewable energy, by contrast, is more insulated from these shocks, meaning it can provide us with the cheap, stable energy we need to bring down people’s bills.

The transition to Net Zero isn’t just about protecting the environment or cutting bills - it’s a major economic opportunity. The UK’s Net Zero economy is already worth over £100 billion and supports 1.1 million jobs, while driving innovation, and attracting investment nationwide. Each worker in the sector generates nearly £120,000 for the wider economy - around one‑and‑a‑half times the national average.

We must change the narrative that the choice lies between Net Zero and economic growth. It doesn’t. Choosing Net Zero is a pro-growth choice; sticking to fossil fuels is what puts our future economy at risk. This is made starkly clear by the Climate Change Committee’s research that found reaching Net Zero by 2050 would cost less than a single fossil‑fuel crisis. If we are serious about boosting our economy, we must continue unlocking the opportunities Net Zero offers. Now is not the time to abandon the Climate Change Act.

Attempts to turn Net Zero into a culture-war issue amount to little more than political point-scoring and short-term thinking. Protecting our environment, growing our economy, lowering bills, and strengthening energy security are not goals that compete with Net Zero; rather Net Zero is the best way to achieve them. That is why we must combat the disingenuous arguments of Reform and the Conservatives and call out their irresponsible policies. The Climate Change Act has underpinned years of political collaboration and driven immense progress. Now is the time to stand behind it and protect it from those who would sacrifice it for short term political gain.