The Conservative Party’s shadow energy minister has sparked controversy. He claimed the UK’s net zero 2050 goal is arbitrary and unscientific. Andrew Bowie, acting shadow energy secretary, accused climate scientists of bias. He suggested the UK could reconsider its Paris Agreement commitments.
Bowie argued the net zero 2050 goal was politically motivated rather than evidence-based. This goal was enshrined in law under Theresa May. “We shouldn’t be hamstrung by arbitrary targets,” he said. He also hinted that Kemi Badenoch might withdraw the UK from the Paris Agreement if elected. A similar move was previously made only by Donald Trump’s administration.
Climate scientists swiftly rejected Bowie’s claims. Friederike Otto, a leading climatologist, emphasized that the net zero 2050 goal aligns with IPCC findings. “Stabilizing temperatures requires global net zero by mid-century,” she said. The IPCC, the world’s top climate science body, has repeatedly stated that delaying action risks catastrophic warming.
Despite Bowie’s assertion that some scientists oppose the net zero 2050 goal, he failed to name any when challenged. His comments clash with the UK’s past leadership on climate issues. This includes its push for global net zero commitments during the 2021 COP26 summit in Glasgow.
Economic experts also dispute Bowie’s claim that decarbonization harms prosperity. OECD research shows climate action can boost growth, echoing the landmark 2006 Stern Review. Critics warn that abandoning the net zero 2050 goal could damage the UK’s international standing and green investment prospects.
The Tory party is currently reviewing its energy policies. Badenoch is reportedly skeptical of the 2050 target. Mike Childs of Friends of the Earth condemned Bowie’s remarks. He called the IPCC’s peer-reviewed work the “gold standard” in climate science.
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