How can the UK win back the net zero narrative?
December 7, 2025
29 min
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1,302 of 1,433

December 7, 2025
How can the UK win back the net zero narrative?
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The New Statesman Episodes Around December 7, 2025
Episode 1,302 of 1,433 — walk the feed in the order it was published.
29:22This episodeHow can the UK win back the net zero narrative?
Summary
<p>As the UK grapples with cost of living pressures, geopolitical shocks and a shifting political landscape, the case for net zero remains strong - but the story around it seems to have stalled.</p><br /><p>How can policymakers, businesses and campaigners reconnect climate action with public priorities such as jobs, growth, energy security and household bills?</p><p>In this episode host Jon Bernstein is joined by Benj Sykes, UK Country Manager at Ørsted, Polly Billington, Labour MP and founder of Climate 100, and Daisy Powell-Chandler, Head of Energy and Environment at Public First, to examine the state of the UK’s net zero consensus and what’s really driving public attitudes.</p><br /><p>Their discussion looks at why Westminster debate has become more polarised even as public concern about climate change remains high; whether the language of “net zero” helps or hinders; and how to tell a more compelling, place-based story about the energy transition - from local jobs and warmer homes to cleaner transport and revitalised town centres.</p><br /><p>The panel also explores how to balance upfront investment with cost of living pressures, the case for an energy social tariff, and why decarbonisation should be framed as a national security priority that reduces exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets and future energy price shocks.</p><br /><p>This New Statesman podcast episode is sponsored by Ørsted.</p><p><strong>LISTEN AD-FREE:</strong></p><p>📱<a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2022/06/newapp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Download the New Statesman app</a></p><br /><p><strong>MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:</strong></p><p>❓ <a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/podcasts/2022/10/you-ask-us" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ask a question</a> – we answer them every Friday</p><p>⏰ <a href="https://morningcall.substack.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get our daily politics newsletter</a> every morning</p><p>✍️ <a href="http://saturdayread.substack.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Enjoy the best of our writing</a> via email every Saturday</p><hr /><p style="color: grey; font-size: 0.75em;"> Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
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