In a bold move that could reshape the UK’s energy landscape, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has vowed to scrap net zero requirements for oil and gas extraction in the North Sea, prioritizing maximum fossil fuel production to boost economic growth and energy security. Speaking ahead of a planned address in Aberdeen, Badenoch declared that Britain “cannot afford not to be doing everything to get hydrocarbons out the ground,” echoing U.S. President Donald Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” mantra. She criticized the current net zero by 2050 target as an “impossible ideology” that has left the UK with some of the highest energy prices in the developed world, despite decarbonizing faster than other major economies since 1990.
This pledge comes amid growing public and political frustration with the high costs and economic fallout from green energy policies, potentially positioning the Tories to reclaim ground lost to parties like Reform UK.
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Badenoch’s plan includes overhauling the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) by removing the word “transition” from its name and simplifying its mandate to extract as much oil and gas as possible. She highlighted the irony of the UK leaving vast reserves untapped while neighboring Norway profits from the same seabed, arguing that this represents a “unilateral act of economic disarmament.”
Environmental groups, such as the Stop Rosebank campaign, have condemned the proposal, warning that developing fields like Rosebank—Britain’s largest untapped oilfield—could emit more CO2 than the 28 poorest countries combined annually, undermining global climate goals.
A UCL report further notes that new oil and gas fields would make achieving Paris Agreement targets economically inefficient, as UK reserves are among the most expensive to extract globally.
The UK’s Net Zero Policies: Ambition Meets Reality
The UK’s commitment to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, enshrined in law in 2019, was the first by a major economy and aimed to position Britain as a global leader in clean energy.
The Net Zero Strategy, published in 2021, outlines emission cuts across sectors like power, transport, and heating, with targets including a 68% reduction by 2030 and 81% by 2035.
Progress has been mixed: the UK has led in offshore wind deployment and reduced emissions significantly, but critics argue the strategy relies on speculative technologies and overlooks immediate economic burdens.
The Climate Change Committee (CCC) estimates the net cost at about 0.2% of GDP annually until 2050, but opponents claim this understates the true financial strain.
Recent reviews, including from the IEA, praise the UK’s clean energy efforts but highlight challenges in implementation.
Policies like the Energy Profits Levy (raised to 38% in 2024) and expanded Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) incorporating Scope 3 emissions have deterred investment in fossil fuels, aligning with net zero but exacerbating energy security risks.
Sky-High Energy Costs: The Price of Going Green
Net zero policies have contributed to elevated energy prices, with UK industrial electricity costs surpassing those in the US and much of Europe, hindering the transition to cleaner energy.
Households and businesses face bills inflated by green levies, carbon pricing (including a £18 per tonne CO2 support and the UK Emissions Trading Scheme), and the intermittency of renewables requiring costly backups.
Analysis suggests these “green” elements account for up to 25% of electricity bills, though exact figures vary.
The government’s tax system further distorts incentives, favoring gas over electricity and making net zero more expensive overall.
In 2025, UK energy prices remain among the highest globally, fueling a cost-of-living crisis and prompting calls for relief, such as the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme to cut costs for manufacturers.
Deindustrialization: Factories Flee Amid Soaring BillsHigh energy costs tied to net zero have accelerated deindustrialization, with economists warning of prolonged factory decline as prices rocket.
Businesses report slashing investments, with some paying double what competitors in Europe do for power.
The UK’s manufacturing sector, already hit by disrupted supply chains and sustainability pressures, faces mounting threats from these policies.
Car output hit a 76-year low in 2025, partly blamed on green energy mandates and high costs, not just external factors like tariffs.
Poorer regions, more reliant on industry, suffer disproportionately.
The government’s response includes cutting green levies for over 7,000 firms, but critics argue this is too little, too late, as Europe grapples with similar issues.
Growing Dependence on Energy ImportsNorth Sea production has plummeted from 1.1 million barrels per day in 2020 to 570,000 in 2025, increasing reliance on imports and exposing the UK to global volatility.
Electricity imports hit records in 2024, primarily from France (70% nuclear) and Norway (hydro), via interconnectors.
The UK now imports £41 billion in energy from Norway annually, up from £19 billion in 2019, underscoring vulnerability.
Overall, 45% of gas and 44% of oil products are imported, with plans like Clean Power 2030 aiming to reduce this but risking short-term instability.
Case Studies: Rosebank Shutdown and IMF Bailout Fears
The halt of Rosebank development due to a 2024 court ruling mandating Scope 3 emissions in EIAs exemplifies net zero’s impact, delaying potential output covering 7% of domestic demand and boosting import dependence.
Critics label this “climate zealotry” that prioritizes emissions over energy security and economic benefits.
Economically, the UK faces dire warnings of an IMF bailout akin to 1976, with net zero and deindustrialization cited as contributors to a £50 billion deficit, flat growth, and £111 billion in debt servicing.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has acknowledged energy’s role but defends balanced investments in clean power.
Tories Eye Gains from Public FrustrationPublic support for net zero remains high at 61-69%, but concerns about short-term costs (37% see negative economic impacts) and leadership erode confidence
Frustration with high bills and perceived irrationality in climate debates is mounting, with some viewing net zero as driving a “new Winter of Discontent.”
On immigration, viewed as too high since the 1960s, 47% believe most migrants are illegal, fueling anger over “open borders” under the Tories.
Labour’s tougher stance risks alienating its base, while Tories like Badenoch push “net zero immigration” to appeal to Reform voters.
Senior Tories see this dual pivot—ditching net zero green mandates and hardening borders—as key to regaining support amid widespread discontent.
Badenoch’s pledge taps into these frustrations, but with Labour warning of climate backsliding, the debate underscores the tension between environmental goals and economic realities. As the UK navigates this crossroads, the path forward remains contentious.
A stark reminder that Net Zero equals deinustrialization and fiscal failure. The United States dodged a bullet by having President Trump elected, and the subsequent appointment of Secretaries Chris Wright, Lee Zeldin, and Doug Burgham into the Three Horsemen of the Energy Dominance Apocolypse. Who will step up in the UK to be their Donald Trump and save their economy and energy policies?
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