05 April 2023 , 13:06
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The Government has come under fire after admitting ministers meet with climate deniers "all the time".
It comes after it emerged business secretary Kemi Badenoch met members of a think-tank branded a "climate denial front group" in the US.
Ms Badenoch dined with figures from the American Enterprise Institute in November last year.
The group has previously argued that it is "beyond irresponsible" for governments to try to tackle climate change based on the evidence available.
It also accused the Cop26 conference, hosted by the UK, of creating a "false narrative" around the dangers of climate change.
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Kemi Badenoch met with a think-tank branded a 'climate denial front group' in the US (Getty Images)A Government spokesperson told OpenDemocracy that such meetings happen "all the time", adding that ministers meet “all sorts of stakeholders that have different views".
They said: “There are various think tanks in Westminster that have sceptical views about climate change and ministers meet these people all the time."
Dr Doug Parr, Chief Scientist for Greenpeace UK, told The Mirror: "The science is solid and the public demand rapid change, but there are a number of fossil-fuelled think tanks and lobbyists for vested interests who want government to ignore all that, and this government seems unable to tell the difference between wealth and expertise.
"Meanwhile, the actual experts have been warning that any delay in cutting carbon will be very expensive, and the world’s leading industrial nations are accelerating away from us in the race to dominate clean technology markets.
"When we wonder why Britain seems incapable of producing our own batteries or wind turbines, these meetings are a big part of the answer.“
Dr Douglas Parr, Greenpeace chief scientist, called on the Government to listen to 'actual experts'During her campaign to succeed Boris Johnson as PM last summer, Ms Badenoch appeared to roll back on the Government's commitment to reach Net Zero by 2050.
She told TalkTV: “I believe there is climate change and that’s something we do need to tackle, but we have to do it in a way that doesn’t bankrupt our economy.
"We’ve got to take people with us. What would happen if we moved it to 2060 or 2070? We’re not going to be here. Let’s be realistic.”
In a speech at the Cato Institute in Washington DC in November, Ms Badenoch said: “We all know that climate change is a challenge for us all, wherever we live in the world.
"But we know that we can and should solve it by using free trade and investment to accelerate the technological progress that will protect the planet.
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“And something that not enough politicians say: we must do this, we must protect the planet in a way that does not impoverish the UK, the US or, let’s be honest, any other country."
Greenpeace US claims the institute where the speech took place is “focused on disputing the science behind global warming and questioning the rationale for taking action”.
A Department for Business and Trade spokesman said: “Claiming that speaking to a particular think tank implies adopting every one of their policy positions is treating the public like fools.
“The Secretary of State visited Washington DC to emphasise the importance of trade as a force for security and prosperity, including green trade and investment, and to promote the UK’s high-talent, business-friendly environment and highly innovative economy."