Helen Clarkson, CEO of Climate Group, responds to Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch's pledge to extract all oil and gas out of the North Sea.
"This is a damaging statement for the UK's economic and industrial prospects.
The UK needs to be part of a world that is embracing clean technology and the energy transition to stay competitive. Global investments were almost twice as much in clean energy than in fossil fuels in 2024. 2025 saw record levels of clean energy investment, $386 billion, despite US market changes.
Over 100 UK-based businesses, all multinationals, who we work with tell us they want policies that create a level playing field that help them compete in these markets and secure the future of their businesses. Embracing this shift is also vital to ensure that we have a liveable planet for the coming centuries.
UK policy needs to be rooted in the world we live in now, not the fantasy world of the last century as imagined on social media."
- Helen Clarkson, CEO of Climate Group