The National Trust, one of the UK’s most prominent conservation organisations, has expressed concern over the recent policy u-turn by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the date for climate targets.
In a statement posted last Thursday on X (formerly Twitter), the National Trust called on the government to reconsider its position, emphasising the significance of maintaining progress towards net zero emissions.
It stated, “Progress towards Net Zero must be sustained, not kicked down the road for political expediency.”
The trust has faced criticism for allegedly promoting a “woke” agenda and diverging from its central mission of preserving heritage and countryside, as claimed by the Restore Trust group, which seeks changes in the National Trust’s leadership.
Its commitment to climate targets has frequently been labelled as part of this perceived agenda.
In its statement, the National Trust also questioned the rationale behind the government’s decision, which it claimed seems to run counter to the country’s global leadership so far on climate change.
Just last Friday, the UK pledged a further £160 million to support developing nations’ net-zero efforts, as part of a larger plan to spend £11.6 billion on international climate finance from 2021 to 2026.
The National Trust pointed towards so-called extreme weather events witnessed over the summer, which, they opined, underscored the urgency of addressing climate change.
They also highlighted record-breaking temperatures within the UK.
‘Factually Wrong’
Responding to the post, Lance Forman, former MEP and well-known businessman, said, “Every single point you have just made is factually wrong.”He added, “National Mistrust would be more appropriate.”
The trust raised the concern that future generations will look back to “ask why,” in the face of “stark” signs of climate change, the government chose to reverse its stance on environmental commitments.
In an emotive appeal, The National Trust stressed the importance of fairness in any policy changes, asserting that it is fundamentally “not fair” for today’s decisions to negatively impact the future of the country’s children.
It stated, “Fairness should absolutely be central to any change, but it is not fair that our children will have their future blighted by the poor decisions made today.”
The news comes after it was reported last week that the National Trust’s £1.6 billion investment portfolio experienced a decrease in value, in part through its allocation to eco-friendly wealth managers.
A spokesman for the National Trust responded to concerns, emphasising that the Trust’s primary goal is to seek long-term returns while aligning its investments with its values and charitable objectives, particularly those aimed at positively impacting the climate change crisis.
Growing Political Concern
The statement from the National Trust aligns with a growing political concern over the prime minister’s announcement, mainly from the Labour camp, although several high-profile Tories have found themselves at odds with the government’s new strategy.Last week, Baroness Altmann voiced concerns over any motivations that could detract from the UK’s commitment to climate action, while the PM’s announcement appeared to clash with previous statements by cabinet member Michael Gove.
In contrast, several Tory MPs recently called into question a pledge of £1.62 billion to the Green Climate Fund, made by the prime minister during the G20 summit. Others pushed for Mr. Sunak to use the policy change as a launchpad for even greater reduction in net zero commitments.
Critics argue that these commitments and the allocation of other resources could be better spent domestically, addressing issues such as special needs education, healthcare, and housing.
Despite his u-turn last Thursday to delay the ban on petrol and diesel-powered vehicles, Mr. Sunak has made it clear that he remains committed to achieving the UK’s climate goals by 2050.
