Tory leadership candidates urged to maintain climate goals

Business groups representing thousands of UK organisations, are calling on Tory leadership candidates to accelerate the clean energy transition and keep up UK progress on climate change.

In an open letter, business groups, including the UK Corporate Leaders Group (CLG UK), BITC, UK Green Building Council, Food and Drink Federation, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and RenewableUK, are urging prospective Conservative Party leadership candidates to implement manifesto commitments on net zero and nature restoration. The groups, representing businesses across all sectors of the UK economy, call for an ambitious focus on the delivery of solutions to the climate and nature crises in order to give business the confidence to invest.

The letter states: “we urge prospective candidates (and their supporters) for the Conservative Party Leadership to implement your party’s manifesto commitments to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and restore nature within a generation.

“We have seen first-hand that investment in low carbon infrastructure and technologies delivers huge economic benefits. Supportive policy measures bring down the costs of clean technology, enabling businesses to capitalise on 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 levelling up opportunity across the UK.”

In addition to the necessary drive towards a low carbon, pro-nature economy, the letter also focusses on the importance of the clean energy transition in shoring up energy security and helping households with the cost-of-living crisis.

The letter was coordinated by the UK Business Group Alliance for Net Zero (BGA) led by Cambridge University’s pro-climate business group CLG UK.

Julie Hirigoyen (pictured), CEO, UK Green Building Council said: “As prices soar businesses are looking for the next Prime Minister to deliver on the UK’s legal climate commitments, not ditch them. Tackling the climate and cost of living crises are two sides of the same coin. Insulating our homes and businesses will bring bills down, bolster energy security and help achieve net zero carbon, whilst giving a real boost to the economy and industry.”