Conservatives Scrap ‘Impossible’ 2050 Net Zero Target

Pursuing net zero at the current pace would be damage the UK economy and taxpayers, the Conservative Party leader has argued.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch at the launch of a "policy renewal process", led by shadow cabinet members, aimed at formulating new policy for the Conservative Party, in central London on March 18, 2025. Yui Mok/PA

The Conservatives have scrapped their commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with party leader Kemi Badenoch declaring the target “impossible” to achieve.

Delivering a speech on party policy renewal on Tuesday, Badenoch criticised the previous Conservative government for setting the ambitious goal without a detailed plan. She said that the net zero policy has driven up energy costs without delivering meaningful progress.