CAMPAIGNERS slammed Tory leader Kemi Badenoch after she argued against her party’s own climate goals today.

Announcing a “policy renewal" at a press conference in London, Ms Badenoch said that it would be “impossible” to achieve Net Zero by 2050.

The legally binding target was adopted by former Tory PM Theresa May.

She said: “I don’t say that with pleasure. Or because I have some ideological desire to dismantle it – in fact, we must do what we can to improve our natural world.

“I say it because anyone who has done any serious analysis knows it can’t be achieved without a serious drop in our living standards or by bankrupting us.”

She claimed that Net Zero is making Britain “dangerously dependent” on China, as the top producer of solar panels.

Ms Badenoch declared that the Tories are going to “deal with reality” but neglected to unveil a concrete plan, only stating that shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho would be looking at “all areas” of energy policy.

Greenpeace UK’s head of climate Mel Evans warned that it is “not the time to step back” on climate action.

“Throwing in the towel on our climate goals means giving up on making life better for British people now and in the future,” she said.

Friends of the Earth head of policy Mike Childs said: “The Conservative leader saying she wants to do all she can to protect the natural world is entirely meaningless when it comes in the same breath as claiming net zero by 2050 is impossible, without a shred of evidence.”

The day before, activists from Climate Resistance interrupted Ms Badenoch seconds into delivering a speech at a Margaret Thatcher conference held by right-wing think tank the Centre for Policy Studies.

Two activists unfurled a banner reading Abolish Billionaires as part of a campaign demanding a 100 per cent wealth tax on assets over £10 million to fund climate action. 

Campaigners drew attention to the devastating impact of neo-liberal policies — deregulation, privatisation, and austerity — championed by Ms Thatcher and the current Tory Party. 

Climate Resistance spokesperson Sam Simons said: “Today’s Conservatives are clinging to an ideology designed to stuff the pockets of the super-rich while the planet burns and people struggle to pay their bills.

“It’s time to tax billionaires out of existence and use the resources to fund social services and climate action.”