CEN Talks

Join CEN's John Flesher, Lynsey Jones, and James Cullimore this net zero week to talk about decarbonisation's benefits and the challenges ahead to achieve the UK's 2050 target. Also, what the independent Climate Change Committee's latest progress report means for net zero and what the government needs to do to deliver on its climate goals. The Conservative Environment Network is the independent forum for conservatives in the UK and around the world who support net zero, nature restoration and resource security.

Join CEN's John Flesher, Lynsey Jones, and James Cullimore to talk about the government's new food strategy and what it means for British farming and nature restoration. Also, why more people are looking to buy an electric vehicle now petrol has reached £100 a tank on average, compared to £15 for fully charging a car battery. And CEN's Fin McCarron joins the podcast to talk about lessons from the Maldives' pole and line fishing law and how other countries can support sustainable fishing with free trade.  The team also look ahead to the UN's upcoming summit on biodiversity, COP15, and International Environment Minister Lord Goldsmith sets out the UK's ambition for the conference.  The Conservative Environment Network is the independent forum for conservatives in the UK and around the world who support net zero, nature restoration and resource security.

Join CEN's John Flesher, Lynsey Jones, and James Cullimore to talk about what last week's local election results could mean for environmental policy in town halls across the country. Also, what green Bills people should watch following the Queen's Speech and where ministers could go further to cut the cost of living and protect the environment. And how the upcoming Australian elections on 21 May 2022 could impact the country's environmental ambitions. The Conservative Environment Network is the independent forum for conservatives who support conservation and decarbonisation. 

Join CEN's John Flesher, Lynsey Jones, and James Cullimore to talk about a new poll that reveals a quarter of Conservative voters would be less likely to back the party again if the government weakened the UK's net zero ambition.  Also, the consequences of Russian energy giant Gazprom's decision to stop supplying gas to Poland and Bulgaria after the countries refused to pay in Roubles. And the Department of Education's announcement that a new natural history GSCE will be introduced by September 2025. The Conservative Environment Network is the independent forum for conservatives who support conservation and decarbonisation.

We talk to Tom Tugendhat MP about how the UK can strengthen its energy security, deprive the Kremlin of oil and gas revenue, and protect people from volatile fossil fuel prices.  Presented by Jack Richardson, CEN's Senior Climate Programme Manager. If you'd like to learn more about CEN, visit. cen.uk.com.

In our latest podcast, we talk to two Australian politicians, Elizabeth Lee MLA (Liberal Party) and Damian Drum MP (National Party), about their country's response to climate change and their thoughts after visiting the UK for COP26 with the Conseravtive Environment Network (CEN). Presented by John Flesher, CEN's Head of International Programme. If you'd like to learn more about CEN, visit cen.uk.com.

In this special podcast, we bring you the highlights from the Conservative Environment Network's (CEN) latest conference on conserving our natural inheritance, including Environment Secretary George Eustice MP's speech and Q&A with CEN Chair Ben Goldsmith. Presented by James Cullimore, CEN's Senior Nature Programmer Manager.  If you'd like to learn more about us, visit cen.uk.com.

In our latest podcast, Workington MP Mark Jenkinson gives his insights on the transition to electric vehicles, species reintroduction and what's next for the environment post-COP26. Presented by Lynsey Jones, CEN Climate Programmes Manager. If you'd like to learn more about the Conservative Environment Network, visit cen.uk.com.

In our third interview, a former Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and environment secretary gives us her take on the UK Government's landmark Net Zero Strategy. Andrea Leadsom MP tells us what makes her a green Tory, calls for more ambition from government on the boiler phase-out, and argues that the environment presents a political opportunity for the Conservatives at the next general election. Presented by Colin Malaney, Head of UK Programmes. If you'd like to learn more about the Conservative Environment Network, visit cen.uk.com.

In our second interview, the MP for Brecon and Radnorshire and PPS to the Environment Secretary tells us what makes her a green Tory, reveals why access to nature was so important to her during lockdown, and argues that farming and biodiversity can go hand in hand. PLUS Patrick Hall from the think tank Bright Blue on his latest report which examined public attitudes to the natural environment. Presented by James Cullimore, CEN Nature Programmes Manager. If you'd like to learn more about the Conservative Environment Network, visit cen.uk.com.

In the first of a new series, the MP for Kingswood and former Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation tells us what makes him a green Tory, takes us behind the scenes on the race to put Net Zero targets into law, and offers us his thoughts on whether we'll get there by 2050. Presented by Jack Richardson, CEN Climate Programmes Manager. If you'd like to learn more about the Conservative Environment Network, visit cen.uk.com.

Panel: Ruth Edwards (Chair), CEN MP and member of the Home Affairs Select Committee; Lord Goldsmith, International Environment Minister and CEN Alumni; H.E Malik Amin Aslam, Pakistan's Federal Minister for Climate Change; Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, former Chancellor of the Exchequer; Kate Norgrove, Executive Director of Advocacy and Campaigns at WWF; and Stanley Johnson, CEN International Ambassador and former Conservative MEP. The UK has the opportunity to play a leading role in securing ambitious international agreements at the two major environmental summits this year - on nature in China and on climate in Glasgow. Climate change and biodiversity loss continue to worsen around the world, with the world’s surface temperatures in 2020 tied with 2016 as the warmest year on record and average wildlife populations falling by two-thirds since 1970. We know that nature provides significant services for people, from the food we eat, to the air we breathe and beyond. Its loss threatens our very existence, and so the success of these summits will be crucial if we're to hand on a healthy environment to future generations. Post-Brexit, Britain rightly wants to take an increasingly active role on the world stage; no issue is more important for UK global leadership than the environment. The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) meets in Kunming, China this year to agree on a new set of global biodiversity targets  to protect and restore the natural world. While politicians and the public increasingly recognise the importance of the UN climate summit which the UK is hosting in Glasgow, the equally important nature summit in China isn't as well publicised. As president of the COP26 climate summit and the G7 this year, we have the opportunity and responsibility to better link up international negotiations on climate and biodiversity. What does a successful outcome from the nature summit look like? How can we secure a global agreement to deliver the Prime Minister’s commitment to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, and protect 30% of land and seas for nature's recovery by 2030? This webinar will also consider how to ensure stronger recognition of the integrated climate and biodiversity crises, what role the UK can play in securing these ambitious global agreements, and if we are doing enough to restore nature domestically to lead by example. It will also consider the importance of the recently published Dasgupta Review into the economics of biodiversity, and how we should better account for nature in economic decision-making to strengthen our resilience to future shocks and improve public wellbeing.

To mark Earth Day 2021, we discussed how countries can work together on climate change to make COP26 a success and deliver on the Paris Agreement. With speakers:  The Hon George Brandis QC, Australian High Commissioner to the UK HE Dr Farah Faizal, High Commissioner of the Maldives to the UK Stanley Johnson, CEN International Ambassador and former Conservative MEP CEN MP Harriett Baldwin, Chair of the British Group Inter-Parliamentary Union and former Minister for Africa James Cameron, Friend of COP26, adviser and social entrepreneur

Panel: Lord Richard Benyon, CEN Peer and former Environment Minister (Chair); James Heappey MP, Minister for the Armed Forces and CEN Alumni; Tom Tugendhat MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee; Sophia Gaston, Director of the British Foreign Policy Group; Erin Sikorsky, Director of the International Military Council on Climate and Security; and James Rogers, Co-Founder of the Council on Geostrategy.

Listen in as we discuss opportunities for the UK to lead globally in afforestation and halting deforestation, including ground-breaking government plans to place a due diligence obligation on large companies to eliminate deforestation impacts from their supply chains. We were delighted to be joined by Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP (Chair) and international forestry experts, including Johan Eliasch, Penny Davies and Dr Thomas Maddox.

Five years on from the landmark Paris Agreement, next year’s Glasgow summit, COP26, is a critical opportunity to accelerate global efforts to tackle climate change and deliver a green recovery from Covid-19. Listen as we mark ‘one year to COP’ and launch our new international programme of work, which seeks to build a strong global network of conservative environmentalists at the UN Climate Conference, COP26 and beyond. We’re delighted to be joined by COP26 President The Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP and CEN MPs, including Tim Loughton and Alicia Kearns.

Panel: Sam Hall (CEN Director, Chair), Ruth Edwards MP (CEN), Tom Clarke (Head of Electric Vehicle Strategy, LV=), Emma Gatten (Environment Editor, The Telegraph), George Freeman MP (former Transport Minister, CEN) Cars alone are responsible for 55% of transport emissions in the UK, and also contribute to air pollution which is linked to up to 36,000 deaths per year. This makes the switch to low emission electric vehicles key to getting to net zero and cleaning up our air. This event will consider what the government can do to facilitate and accelerate this transition, and how private-sector investment in EVs and their charging infrastructure can support a green economic recovery from Covid-19. In order to meet our net zero target, the Committee on Climate Change advises that all new cars and vans should be electric by 2032 at the latest, with an earlier switchover of 2030 being even more effective at boosting domestic supply chains, cutting motorists’ costs, and securing ‘green collar’ manufacturing jobs. The government has acted on this advice and consulted on bringing forward the date to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, but is it feasible to bring it forward again to 2030, and what additional support would be required for manufacturers, consumers, and councils to help deliver it? While EVs are already cheaper than petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of total lifetime costs, the sticker price is set to remain higher for the next four to five years - potentially acting as a barrier to the mass uptake of cleaner cars. This discussion will explore whether the Government’s existing schemes including the plug-in car grant goes far enough, if further fiscal incentives such as higher fuel duty are needed, and how policy can drive down manufacturing costs, particularly through R&D for battery innovation. The panellists will also discuss what more can be done to support councils to increase the number of charge points available, which is crucial to addressing range anxiety, a key challenge to the uptake of electric cars.

Panel: Meg Trethewey (CEN Head of Programmes, Chair), Henry Smith MP (CEN), Roz Bulleid (Head of Policy, Green Alliance), Robert Courts MP (Minister for Aviation) & John Holland-Kaye (CEO, Heathrow Airport) While Covid-19 has inflicted significant challenges upon the aviation industry, decarbonising aviation can help us to ‘build back better’ by creating high-skilled jobs in the low-carbon industries of the future, and tackle climate change. Decarbonising international aviation will require a global effort, but the UK can and is leading in research and development into low-carbon technologies like sustainable aviation fuels, hydrogen and electric planes. This panel will discuss the feasibility of sustainable aviation, the opportunities for UK-led innovation, and how the government, the sector, and consumers can reduce our carbon footprint from flying. Contributing £28 billion to the UK economy each year and supporting almost one million UK jobs, the aviation sector already showcases British expertise in science and engineering. Through sustainable aviation, there are opportunities to unlock more jobs, particularly important as part of the ‘levelling up’ agenda, while delivering the Prime Minister’s goal of making the UK a ‘science superpower’. Currently, the sector is accountable for 2% of global CO2 emissions, but it is likely to be the largest emitting sector in the UK by 2050, with passenger numbers predicted to grow by around 70% up to 2050. The Government’s ambition for net zero flights is included in the UK’s first Transport Decarbonisation Plan, and reflected in the formation of the Jet Zero Council to make flights more environmentally friendly and support the development of sustainable fuels. But what short-term and long-term policies are needed to make these important goals a reality?

Panel: Benet Northcote (CEN Board, Chair), Ben Houchen (Tees Valley Mayor), Jacob Young MP (Chair, Hydrogen APPG), Enass Abo-Hamed (Co-founder & CEO, H2GO power ltd) & Dr Angela Needle (Director of Strategy, Cadent Gas) Low carbon hydrogen will be critical to meeting the UK’s net zero target, as an alternative to fossil fuels for heating homes, industry and transport and in supporting the ‘levelling up’ of communities affected by the loss of jobs in fossil fuel industries. Currently, the dominant source of hydrogen is natural gas. With new green methods of producing hydrogen being developed using renewable electricity, unleashing a green hydrogen economy is important for this Government’s ambitious plans for clean growth, but how should ministers look to kickstart the industry? What storage and distribution infrastructure is needed and how can private-sector investment be stimulated? Combined with renewable electricity, hydrogen can be produced, stored and used without causing harmful greenhouse gases. Hydrogen is already deployed in innovative projects across the country – such as blending it into the gas network at Keele University in Staffordshire and hydrogen transport innovation being progressed in Tees Valley. Hydrogen will be critical for decarbonising heavy industry such as steel. In homes and commercial buildings, hydrogen could be used for heating, while there is also potential to decarbonise heavy goods vehicles, shipping and aviation. The panel will discuss how much green hydrogen is likely to be available, and in which sectors it should be deployed. Analysis from the IEA found that the cost of producing hydrogen from renewable electricity could fall 30% by 2030 as a result of declining costs of renewables and the scaling up of hydrogen production. To seize this opportunity, the Government has set up the Hydrogen Advisory Council and published a report on possible business models for low carbon hydrogen production. This event is a prime opportunity to discuss the benefits of low carbon hydrogen and how a new cross-government hydrogen strategy could unlock its potential.

Panel: Sam Hall (CEN Director, Chair), Richard Walker (Managing Director, Iceland Foods), Minette Batters (President, NFU), Richard Graham MP (Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy for Indonesia, ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), Philippines & Malaysia, CEN) We cannot solve environmental challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss without our farmers. As food producers and stewards of some 70% of UK land, farmers are responsible not only for ensuring that the food we eat is high quality, but also for protecting our landscapes and enabling our wildlife to flourish. As we develop new policies on agriculture, the environment, and trade outside the EU, how can we support a sustainable and profitable future for British agriculture in a net zero world? Farming is the foundation of the UK’s £120 billion food and drink sector, which is now our fourth largest exporting sector. Rewarding more sustainable land management and food production as we leave the EU will be crucial in reaching the UK’s world-leading net zero target and ensuring our farmers are able to carry on feeding the nation for decades and centuries to come. This progress is partly contingent, however, on a supportive trade policy that protects high UK environmental standards in agriculture.  This panel will discuss agriculture's role in delivering net zero, high-quality food, and free trade. Chiefly, how the government can work with the sector to deliver the NFU’s ambitious 2040 net zero target. It will also explore how we can back British farmers in future trade deals and promote high environmental and animal welfare standards at home and around the world.