The Tory leadership contenders have signed up to a series of pledges put forward by the Conservative Environment Network (CEN), including continuing with nature-friendly farming subsidies after Brexit and switching to renewable energy. The other leadership candidate, Kemi Badenoch, has yet to sign the pledge and has previously described the net zero target as “arbitrary”. She was contacted for comment. The pledge specifically commits candidates to achieving the government’s key environmental goals, including net zero by 2050 and halting species decline by 2030. It also commits candidates to a reform of the EU’s agricultural payment system and instead pays landowners to protect the environment. Those who sign the pledge affirm that they believe renewable energy is the future and vow to invest in new clean technologies. The pledge states that “caring for the environment is at the core of conservatism” and pledges to “continue the Conservative party’s leadership on the environment” and “address the defining environmental challenges of our generation”. There has been a bitter battle between the Tories on climate and the environment, with minister and peer Zac Goldsmith even saying he would vote for an opposition party if a Conservative leader came up with a clean slate. The party’s green wing is struggling to regain control of the climate and net-zero debate after two leadership candidates, Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman, who is now out of the race, said they would push back on the 2050 target . They seem to have somehow succeeded. While Tugendhat said at the Committee’s 1922 Hustings that he would also move back the target, he appears to have changed his mind after angry responses from his colleagues. He said when asked by reporters on Thursday: “Of course I agree with the goal, but no one has yet laid out the path to achieve it.” It has now subscribed to the CEN targets. Sunak, for his part, assured the party’s green wing that he plans to protect the environment if elected leader. There are 120 MPs in CEN, who are asking candidates to reassure them on climate policies after a worrying start to the leadership race. Chris Skidmore, a leading Green Tory who chairs the all-party environment caucus, threw his support behind Sunak after meetings in which the former chancellor assured him he would not roll back climate policies. Skidmore told the Guardian: “Since the Conservative leadership race began, we have seen some very worrying statements from some candidates that have sent shockwaves through the international climate scene – suggesting that the UK should weaken our commitments for the climate or to leave net zero by 2050. . “This would be disastrous not only for the future of the UK economy – particularly in the post-industrial regions of the north, the so-called ‘red wall’ which is currently directly benefiting from a green industrial revolution – but it would be disastrous for the UK leadership Vassiliou in the climate, especially during our presidency of Cop26”. Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every weekday morning at 7am
