The Portsmouth North MP is the only Tory leadership candidate so far to get his views on climate change and the environment right. She made the intervention after a heated debate over climate targets in her party, with two of the remaining contenders, Kemi Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat, criticizing domestic carbon reduction pledges. Alok Sharma, the chairman of Cop26, told the Observer that he could resign if the next leader was lukewarm on the environment. On Monday, Sharma will grill the five remaining candidates on green issues, giving each 15 minutes to talk about what they would do about the environment if elected leader. There have been fears that a new leader will abandon the controversial replacement of EU farm subsidies, with the farming lobby protesting that they do not want to be paid to conserve nature instead of producing food. Mordaunt has committed to the green farming plan, telling the Guardian: “I am committed to reforming EU land grants and will instead reward those farmers here at home who stand up for nature and the sustainable management of the countryside. “We’ve seen so many farmers already take these steps, but I want to encourage and support those who are actively taking steps to leave a cleaner, greener environment for the next generation. Sustainable agriculture in the long term is an absolutely critical part of how we can, together, protect our natural world.” Some of her colleagues, including Steve Baker, the MP for Wycombe who runs the Eurosceptic ERG group of Tory MPs, said the cost of living crisis meant the UK should increase domestic gas production, rather than switch to renewables. energy sources. However, Mordaunt said: “Net zero transition provides the opportunity to create millions of jobs over the next decade. Quickly. Investing in the domestic renewable energy sector reduces the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels such as natural gas, which are exposed to volatile global prices. Low-carbon electricity already provides around 50% of the UK’s total generation on average each year.” He added that a shift to more renewable energy would “quickly boost the UK’s energy security”. The former defense secretary is trying to convince colleagues that there is a positive case for net zero because of the green jobs it would create. He said: “At the heart of my delivery to the country is a relentless drive to harness the opportunities of greener industries and a plan to create jobs in those sectors most likely to benefit.” Reassuring those who believe a Tory leader can scrap climate commitments, he said: “Environmentalism and conservatism go hand in hand and it’s a core principle of who I am – someone committed to the future of our world and the legacy we leave.” . Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7am. BST Most candidates have committed to the net zero target and all but Badenoch have signed a pledge written by the Conservative Environment Network pledging to continue the climate policies of Boris Johnson’s government. However, Tugendhat said he favors restrictions on imports from countries with looser environmental standards over achieving net zero emissions at home. Rishi Sunak said during Friday’s televised debate that he cared deeply about the environment and was committed to net zero, but offered no firm policy ideas. Liz Truss said she would scrap the EU’s habitats directive and instead carry out an inquiry into the nature of threatened species in the UK, but gave no idea about renewable energy or green jobs.
