In recent articles in the Telegraph, Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, has set out an approach to net zero that risks the future of British nature, despite the party promising they care deeply about our wildlife and greenspaces. 

Together with leading nature charity CEOs, we’re urging Kemi Badenoch, alongside politicians of all parties, to urgently recognise the threat that climate change poses to nature, and the undeniable need to tackle these dual threats, including through efforts to reach net zero. 
 

Our joint letter

"The Conservative Party leader is correct when she says climate change is real. What is missing from her prospectus is any kind of answer to what is to be done. Kemi Badenoch’s only policy position on climate change is to attack the 2050 net zero target, a position which is neither honest nor coherent in answering the question of how we tackle climate change. 

If the Conservative Party cares about the environment and natural landscape, they should be honest that climate change one of the biggest threats to nature in the UK and abroad; the wildfires in mainland Europe and even in the UK have shown that in action. 

If the Conservative Party cares about food security and the livelihoods of farmers, they should be honest about the impact climate change is having on food production, as we expect farmers to face the worst harvest on record this year.

If the Conservative Party is looking for common sense, then they need not listen to us, but instead could try Professor Sir Jim Skea, chair of the global climate scientific panel the IPCC, who says, “It’s chemistry and physics that if you want to stop global warming, you have to achieve net zero emissions, and that isn’t a political choice.”  

Craig Bennett, CEO, The Wildlife Trusts 

Hilary McGrady, Director-General of the National Trust

Beccy Speight, CEO, RSPB 

Roger Mortlock, CEO, CPRE

Darren Moorcroft, CEO, Woodland Trust

Tanya Steele, CEO, WWF

Richard Benwell, CEO, Wildlife & Countryside Link