UK leaders debate the country’s Net Zero targets

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has declared the UK's 2050 net zero target "impossible" without significant sacrifices to living standards or financial stability. Set by Theresa May’s government in 2019, the legally binding goal aligns with the Paris Climate Agreement. Badenoch criticised current policies as costly and ineffective, launching a policy review within her party. Her stance has drawn sharp criticism from political opponents and environmental advocates, with former Prime Minister May calling the target “challenging but achievable”. Badenoch insists she supports environmental protection but prioritises practical solutions. Her speech marks a major shift in the Conservative Party’s approach to climate policy. (BBC) 

Why does this matter? The UK’s stance on net zero carries weight far beyond its borders. As one of the world’s largest historical emitters of carbon and a key architect of the 2015 Paris Agreement, the UK has long positioned itself as a global leader on climate action. Walking back from its legally binding 2050 net zero target undermines not only domestic climate progress but also the international credibility of climate commitments.  

With countries such as China and India advancing their energy transitions and allies watching closely, the UK’s climate leadership – or lack thereof – has diplomatic, economic and environmental consequences. Domestically, the debate also highlights deep political divisions on how to balance climate action with economic concerns, as Labour pushes back with clean energy policies that aims to cut bills, create jobs and reduce reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets. This matters to Rio Tinto because shifting UK climate policy could influence global momentum on decarbonisation, regulation and investor expectations – especially for resource-intensive industries. 

In a detailed fact-check, Carbon Brief refutes Kemi Badenoch’s claims UK’s net-zero by 2050 target “impossible”. Conversely, the target, enshrined in UK law since 2019, is grounded in scientific consensus and supported by credible economic analysis. Contrary to Badenoch’s assertions, expert bodies including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change  and the UK Climate Change Committee have repeatedly affirmed that net-zero by mid-century is both achievable and necessary to mitigate climate change. Furthermore, analysis shows that the transition to clean energy would be cost-effective, with significant long-term savings and enhanced energy security. 

Badenoch’s position also overlooks the UK’s extensive legislative and policy frameworks supporting the net-zero goal, including detailed delivery plans and multiple feasible pathways outlined by the National Energy System Operator. The suggestion that net-zero would bankrupt the UK is contradicted by recent research showing the net cost of the transition is far lower than previously estimated – around 0.2% of GDP annually. Public and cross-party support for the target remains strong, with polling indicating two-thirds of Britons favour the 2050 goal.  

A growing body of evidence makes clear that soaring UK electricity bills are not the result of net zero policies, but of the country’s heavy reliance on gas in its electricity pricing system. The UK’s marginal pricing model means that the most expensive form of electricity generation, typically gas, sets the price for all electricity, regardless of the growing share supplied by cheaper renewables. This has left the UK disproportionately exposed to global energy shocks, notably following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Far from being the cause of high bills, net zero policies aimed at reducing dependency on gas could offer long-term stability and affordability, provided the electricity market is reformed to reflect the true value of renewables. 

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has reaffirmed the UK government’s commitment to its net zero target, describing it as vital for economic growth, energy security and climate action. In a strong rebuttal to right-wing opposition, Miliband announced the first major initiative by Great British Energy – a £200m ($258m) investment to install solar panels on schools and NHS sites, with the aim of lowering bills and reinvesting in public services. He emphasised that high energy costs stem from fossil fuel dependence, not renewables and pledged to “win the net zero fight” community by community, underlining broad public support for climate action.