The UK should achieve net zero, but not at the expense of British livelihoods - Sally-Ann Hart

However, the current pace of climate change driven by human activity means that many species, including humans, are going to struggle to adapt and survive.

Reducing our carbon emissions, investing in adaptation measures and alternative ways to sequester carbon is key, but the path to net zero must be practical and affordable for British families.

Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s policy shift last year on electric cars and gas boilers, and more investment into nature restoration projects, marked a return to common sense.

Unlike Ed Miliband’s bonkers measures – which the public rejected in 2015 - Sunak’s approach prioritised economic sanity and public buy-in.

Miliband’s vision, full of rigid deadlines and our natural environment covered in electricity pylons, will force households and small businesses into costly overhauls, completely disregarding their financial wellbeing.

Sunak’s decision to delay the ban on new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035 and ease the phase-out of gas boilers was not a retreat from climate commitments but a stand for common-sense affordability.

He made it clear: the UK will achieve net zero, but not at the expense of British livelihoods.

Labour howled, but Sunak’s plan protected household budgets while pushing for environmental progress.

Electric vehicles and heat pumps are very expensive, and rushing deadlines would only breed resentment and resistance. There is a smarter path.

Nature-based solutions offer a cost effective and efficient way to hit our climate targets without financial strain.

Reforestation, better soil management, and regenerative farming sequester carbon, improve soil health, and enhance water retention—all while supporting farmers and reducing costs.

With the Labour Government’s attack on farmers, they show a total lack of environmental savvy.

As the former MP for Hastings and Rye, I witnessed how powerful these strategies can be and supported the Conservative Government’s ambitious and world-leading Environment and Agriculture Acts.

During my time in Parliament, I also chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Ocean, highlighting the potential of blue carbon.

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Blue carbon refers to the carbon captured by coastal and ocean ecosystems like seagrasses and salt marshes. It's is a game-changer.

These natural assets absorb CO2 at rates far beyond those of forests, making them invaluable in the climate fight.

Protecting and restoring these habitats not only cuts carbon, it also strengthens coastal resilience, boosts biodiversity, and supports local economies.

As chair of the APPG for the Ocean, I pushed for blue carbon to be central to UK climate policy. We worked with ministers, DEFRA officials, and experts, leading to tangible government action.

This was not just about environmental stewardship; it was about sustaining the communities which depend on healthy marine ecosystems.

My role also extended to the APPG for Coastal Communities, emphasising that thriving environments and economies go hand in hand.

Nature-based solutions are effective, affordable, and politically smart. They build local investment, foster responsibility, and show that green policy can be pragmatic and popular.

Achieving net zero is challenging, but it need not be punishing. The UK cannot solve climate change alone.

Labour must follow a common-sense approach which ensures that the UK’s climate ambition stays on course without emptying the pockets of hardworking Britons whilst filling the pockets of dictators.

By championing nature-based strategies—both land and ocean—we can secure a cleaner, greener future that supports communities and sustains economic stability.