The green road to net-zero with a bold vision for a fairer, greener future
3 min read
In July last year, the Green Party achieved one of its strongest general election results to date, winning four seats. Co-leader Adrian Ramsay MP outlines the party’s key priorities, focusing on environmental protection and a clear roadmap to achieving net-zero emissions
When I heard Nigel Farage pledge to scrap net-zero, I could have torn my hair out. It’s astonishing that politicians who claim to support “working people” would advocate for policies that keep our most vulnerable in poverty through sky-high energy bills.
The fact is that the net-zero economy grew three times faster than the broader UK economy last year.1 The main reason energy bills remain high is our continued reliance on fossil fuels.2 The facts speak for themselves. This is precisely why we need to accelerate the transition to a green economy. Just as crucial, we must prepare for the impacts of climate change, which are no longer distant threats; they are now a reality and will get much worse if left unchecked. The worsening costs of climate breakdown, from floods to wildfires, make it painfully clear that failing to act today will cost us dearly tomorrow.
We must shift from short-term political thinking to long-term investment in people and the planet. To meet this challenge, the Green Party has proposed a programme of public investment: investing £29bn in home retrofits and £4bn in public building upgrades over the next five years to reduce energy bills and, in turn, cut emissions. An additional £9bn will fund low-carbon heating systems, and £7bn will go towards adapting homes for extreme summer heat. All crucial investments to make our country more prepared and resilient.
"We must prepare for the impacts of climate change, which are no longer distant threats; they are now a reality and will get much worse if left unchecked"
Britain is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. We will change that. A new Rights of Nature Act will give legal personhood to the natural world. By 2030, we will set aside 30 per cent of land and sea for nature recovery, supported by £3bn annually in grants to farmers and landowners who adopt nature-friendly practices. Restoring soil, safeguarding water and ending pollution are central to this plan – including bringing water companies back into public ownership.
Transformational change requires transformational funding. We will tax wealth fairly. The richest in society should contribute more to secure a liveable future and safeguard our public services. We will not be bound by arbitrary fiscal rules that delay necessary action. The cost of inaction is already too high – economically, environmentally and morally.
Our path to net-zero isn’t just about cutting emissions. It’s a blueprint for a fairer, greener Britain. We can build a country that tackles climate breakdown while lifting people out of poverty. It’s not a choice between the two – it’s the same fight.
The time to act is now.
References
1. The Guardian; Britain’s net zero economy is booming, CBI says. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/24/britain-net-zero-economy-booming-cbi-green-sector-jobs-energy-security
2. CarbonBrief; Factcheck: Why expensive gas – not net-zero – is keeping UK electricity prices so high. https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-why-expensive-gas-not-net-zero-is-keeping-uk-electricity-prices-so-high/
