Climate change lies vs facts Misleading climate claims and the real-world impact

No. The evidence shows the opposite.

Reform UK claims that electric vehicles, clean air zones and lower speed limits amount to a “war on drivers”, arguing that scrapping net zero would end bans on petrol and diesel cars. But this argument isn't backed by evidence.

• Reform’s own Richard Tice drives a Tesla.
• Numbers of fully electric cars is rising and accounted for over 20% of all new car registrations in 2025.
• No one is being forced to switch to electric overnight: new petrol and diesel cars will still be sold until 2030, with hybrids and second-hand cars available after that.
• EVs are also cheaper to run - EVs are about £1,000 cheaper to run per year than petrol cars.
• Measures like clean air zones, low-traffic neighbourhoods and 20mph limits aren’t about punishing drivers — they’re designed to cut pollution, reduce road deaths and make streets safer and healthier for everyone.

Calling these changes a “war on drivers” distracts from what they actually do: save lives, improve air quality, and create better places to live, including for people who still drive.

No. It’s already paying off.

Getting to net zero emissions (often shortened to ‘net zero’) means reducing a country’s overall greenhouse gas emissions — largely from burning fossil fuels — as close to zero as possible, with any remaining emissions balanced by removing the same amount from the atmosphere. This removal can be done through natural processes, such as forests and soils that absorb carbon dioxide (known as carbon sinks), as well as through engineered solutions. The industries and infrastructure involved in cutting emissions and supporting low-carbon alternatives are often referred to collectively as the ‘green economy’.

The UK’s green economy is growing three times faster than the rest of the economy, creating jobs and attracting billions in private investment. Yet Reform UK has claimed that net zero policies would “bankrupt Britain” and that scrapping them would save huge sums.

• What Reform UK misses is the cost of doing nothing.
• Climate impacts like flooding, heatwaves and infrastructure damage are already costing the UK billions — and those costs are rising.
• The Office for Budget Responsibility has warned that climate damage will hit economic growth and push up insurance costs, leaving some households uninsurable.
• Net zero isn’t just a cost, it’s an investment. Most of the funding needed is expected to come from the private sector, not taxpayers.
• The transition to a low carbon economy will cost money, but it can be funded fairly by ensuring that the biggest polluters pay the most.
• Scrapping net zero wouldn’t save money it would mean higher climate damage, lost investment, and fewer benefits like cleaner air, better transport and warmer homes.

The real question isn’t whether we can afford net zero. It’s can we afford not to act?

No. The green economy is creating jobs and scrapping climate policies could threaten 950,000+ existing roles.

Getting to net zero emissions (often shortened to ‘net zero’) means reducing a country’s overall greenhouse gas emissions - largely from burning fossil fuels, as close to zero as possible. The industries involved in cutting emissions and supporting low-carbon alternatives are often referred to collectively as the ‘green economy’.

Reform UK leaders claim net zero is "destroying tens of thousands of jobs" and call for scrapping climate targets. But the evidence tells a different story.

• Deindustrialisation in the UK started after WWII - decades before net zero targets existed. Globalisation, not climate policy, drove manufacturing decline.
• The UK's green sector grew 10% in 2024 - three times faster than the overall economy.
• Over 950,000 jobs now exist in net zero businesses, with workers earning above-average wages (£43,076/year).
• The TUC warns that Reform UK's policies could put 40,000 Welsh manufacturing jobs at risk by driving up electricity prices through imported gas reliance.
• Scrapping renewables wouldn't save jobs, it would leave UK steel and manufacturing behind as global competitors shift to cleaner production.

If the goal is protecting British jobs and industry, the solution is investing in the green transition, not reversing it.

No. Climate legislation - not abandoning targets - is the key to UK climate leadership and economic growth. The 2050 goal is achievable and blocking it risks undoing the incredible 50% emissions cut we've already made since 1990. Here are the facts:

• UK emissions have fallen more than 50% since 1990, with the pace doubling after the Climate Change Act 2008
• The 2050 net zero target is achievable, confirmed by the independent Climate Change Committee (CCC)
• 140 countries representing 84% of the global population were inspired by the UK's 2008 Climate Change Act
• Smaller countries collectively contribute 36% of global CO₂ emissions - more than China
• China's emissions have been flat or falling for 21 months (as of late 2025), proving clean energy expansion works
• Business confidence depends on stable climate policy, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

The UK needs to stay on target, not retreat from climate action.