How can the UK win back the net zero narrative?
The Politics Show
The New Statesman
4.2 • 1.5K Ratings
🗓️ 7 December 2025
⏱️ 29 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
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.
How can policymakers, businesses and campaigners reconnect climate action with public priorities such as jobs, growth, energy security and household bills?
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.
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.
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.
This New Statesman podcast episode is sponsored by Ørsted.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The New Statesman. |
| 0:05.7 | Hello and welcome to this special podcast brought to you by the New Statesman's Spotlight Team. |
| 0:10.4 | We cover policy for those who shape it and the businesses it affects. |
| 0:14.4 | I'm John Bernstein. |
| 0:19.9 | In this episode, we'll explore how the UK can win back the net zero narrative |
| 0:25.0 | and what's needed to reconnect the goal of decarbonisation with public priorities such as jobs, |
| 0:31.9 | growth, energy security and the cost of living. |
| 0:35.6 | The political consensus around net zero is showing signs of strain, |
| 0:39.4 | but the underlying case for action only become stronger by the day. |
| 0:44.1 | So what went wrong with the story and how can it be rebuilt? |
| 0:48.8 | This episode has been fully funded by Orsted. |
| 0:52.6 | Joining me on the panel today are Benj Sykes. |
| 0:55.9 | He is UK country manager at Orsted. |
| 0:59.0 | Polly Billington is MP for East Thanet and long-time climate campaigner. |
| 1:03.9 | And Daisy Powell Chandler is Head of Energy and Environment at Public First. |
| 1:08.2 | Welcome to you all. |
| 1:10.2 | A broad question to kick off with, and I'll ask all of you |
| 1:13.1 | this question. The consensus is frayed. I want to know why it's frayed, Polly. And do we have to take |
| 1:19.5 | any responsibility? The people that told the story of net zero, do they have to take some of the |
| 1:23.9 | responsibility? I feel like the consensus might be breaking down at Westminster, but it's not breaking down in the country. And I think we need to understand that some of the responsibility. I feel like the consensus might be breaking down at Westminster, |
| 1:28.5 | but it's not breaking down in the country. And I think we need to understand that sometimes |
| 1:32.1 | the sort of anxiety around all people don't really want action on climate change is a Westminster |
... |
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