As Labour’s £28 billion green investment plan is rolled back, an opportunity emerges for Conservatives to champion green conservatism, focusing on private investment, localism, and the UK’s leadership on the global stage.
From David Cameron’s “greenest government ever” to Theresa May’s net zero pledge, Boris Johnson’s green industrial revolution, and Rishi Sunak’s realism, there is now a clear pathway for a new Conservative leader to shape environmental policy from the opposition benches. Conservatism has always been about preserving what’s valuable—our environment included.
A new Conservative leader must promote green private investment to drive prosperity and security. Post-Brexit, establishing the proposed UK Green Taxonomy, that extends beyond current EU alignment, could better reflect the UK’s unique policy goals. This taxonomy could categorise activities contributing to the UK’s net zero target by 2050 while also supporting biodiversity preservation, pollution prevention, and the transition to a circular economy. This would play a vital role in the UK’s green finance strategy, including the issuance of green gilts, and help mobilise private capital towards environmental goals. Integration with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework could further encourage its adoption.
On environmental security, consider the success of the Flood Re scheme, a partnership between the UK government and insurance industry, launched during Cameron’s tenure. The second quinquennial review in July 2024 concluded it was highly successful in relation to the statutory objective of promoting the availability and affordability of household insurance for flood-prone areas.
A new Conservative leader must also champion green conservatism at home and abroad. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the UK’s national parks, each managed by independent National Park Authorities (NPA) at low cost, reflecting local needs and conditions. These parks are not only about conserving natural beauty but also about supporting local communities and economies. For example, the Peak District NPA works closely with local farmers to develop land management strategies that benefit agricultural productivity and environmental conservation and the Lake District NPA has been supportive of local tourism businesses. An opportunity arises for a conservative policy to guarantee funding for 5 years and consider introducing another national park.
On the international stage conservatives should build on the organisational success, diplomatic experience, and leadership demonstrated at COP26 in Glasgow by pushing for the UK to host the Convention on Biological Diversity COP17. At COP26, the UK played a crucial role in forging agreements, such as the Glasgow Climate Pact. Many of the commitments made at COP26, such as those related to deforestation, land use, and financing climate adaptation, are directly relevant to biodiversity. Hosting COP17 would reinforce the UK’s commitment to advancing global environmental goals and demonstrate that the leadership shown in Glasgow was just the beginning.
A new Conservative leader has the opportunity to redefine the party’s approach to environmental policy, focusing on market-driven solutions, local empowerment, and global leadership. By embracing these principles, the party can present a credible and compelling alternative to Labour’s approach, ensuring that conservatism remains synonymous with conservation.
Views expressed in this blog are those of the author, not necessarily those of the Conservative Environment Network. If you are a CEN supporter, councillor, or parliamentarian and would like to write for the CEN blog, please email your idea to info@cen.uk.com
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