There have been fears that the leadership election could trigger the withdrawal of the UK’s climate pledges, as at least two candidates have said they would end emissions targets. In an open letter, many of the UK’s leading business groups called on leaders to tackle the climate and natural crises and give businesses the confidence to invest. The letter states: “We have seen first-hand that investing in low-carbon infrastructure and technologies brings huge economic benefits. Supportive policy measures reduce the cost of cleantech, allowing businesses to take advantage of growing global markets. “The benefits are significant. From job creation, increased exports and geographically dispersed growth to inward investment and improved air quality from clean energy. Important contributors to equal opportunities across the UK.” The appeal, organized by Cambridge University’s climate business group CLG UK, also advocates a clean energy transition to boost energy security and help households with the cost of living crisis. He stresses that many jobs are at stake if climate commitments are abandoned. 56,000 new jobs have been created in clean industries in the 20 months since the government’s 10-point plan for a green Industrial Revolution, and there is scope for a further 440,000 jobs from the net zero strategy launched last year. Elliot Whittington, director of CLG UK, said: “The Conservative party has an important record of climate leadership. Their new leader will have a choice between this record and delivering for the UK economy and society, or abandoning it and condemning the country to fall behind in the energy transition and face unnecessary costs and risks. “Businesses of the future want more, not less, ambition for climate action, especially as we see the consequences of unstable fossil fuel supply chains increasing the cost of living in crisis and reducing regional energy security. The next Prime Minister must focus on climate policy and continue to deliver net zero and revitalize the UK’s nature.” Lord Adair Turner, former chairman of the Climate Change Committee (CCC) and ex-head of employers’ organization CBI, now chairman of the Energy Transitions Committee, told the Guardian: “I certainly think business wants to continue with net zero. Most businesses have very clear net zero goals and most know the technologies that get us there [to net zero]. “What businesses want is policy continuity. This enables them to plan. They hate the volatility of politics, when one government takes one direction, then another government takes a different one. They want long term goals and they want to know where they are going. There is widespread acceptance of net zero.” While some candidates appear to be trying to capitalize on a culture war over the climate crisis to fire up the Conservative voter base, senior Tories, including Zac Goldsmith and Chris Skidmore, have warned that this would be a sure way to lose the next general elections. Environment Minister George Eustice pointed out that net zero policies were already in place and said it was the direction the world was heading. Dan McGrail, CEO of trade association RenewableUK, said: “We want to be clear to all MPs who are putting themselves forward as the next Conservative leader that achieving net zero is a pro-business stance. You can already see the benefits of decarbonisation through the spread of new renewable energy, which is reducing consumer bills, driving billions of pounds of private investment in the UK and boosting the productivity of our economy. “Our net zero ambition is not only to protect our environment and climate, but to modernize our economy.”
