James Cleverly: Conservative environmentalism doesn’t mean making an artificial choice between growth and sustainability.

This is the text of the 2025 Sam Barker Memorial Lecture, commemorating the Conservative Environment Network’s former Director, delivered by Former Foreign and Home Secretary, Sir James Cleverly MP on the 3rd June.

“In an age that is demanding immediate results and short-form content, how do we make the conservative case for environmental issues?

How do we discuss green energy, environmental protection, maintaining biodiversity, without descending into shouting matches?

How do we make sure that sensible, pragmatic solutions to both domestic and global problems don’t get sacrificed in favour of shibboleths of left and the right, respectively? Now of course Environmental issues are political issues.

But we shouldn’t let them just become polarising issues. And I fear at the moment that we are caught between two tribes of Neo-Luddites:

We have the negative right, Reform, for example, claiming that things are just fine the way they are.

Claiming that concers about emissions,or  habitat loss, or falling yields are scaremongering.

Their motto perhaps is that all change, even for the better, is a bad idea. And then of course we have the negative left; Greens, Lib Dems and the many on the Labour benches.

Suspicious of technology. Believing things were far better before the invention of the car, before the internal combustion engine, probably before even the invention of the steam engine. Before the invention, perhaps, of the wheel.

The  “let’s not move forward” tribe is in a bidding war with the “let’s move backward” brigade.

They are in fact both wrong.

But how do we win the arguments we need to win in an age of cynicism? Because “do as I say because I know best” will not work.

Are you taking note Mr Miliband.

And neither will Greta Thunberg style doom-mongering lecture.

In order to win the arguments, and we must win the arguments, we have to be honest but we also have to be optimistic.

So here’s the honesty

The challenges are real and they are significant. There are many I could discuss, but One of the most pressing is the impact on environmental degradation and habitat loss on global stability. In many parts of the world, farmers are struggling to feed themselves and their families.

And as their land becomes less fertile, their choices become harder. Some turn to migration, understandably seeking better prospects elsewhere in the world.

And we know what a sensitive issue mass migration. And Not just in the UK. And Not just in europe, but right across the world.

Those who don’t move can easily fall prey to extremists.

Not necessarily because they subscribe to extremist ideologies. But because it pays. And pays a lot better than subsistence farming.

So it’s no surprise that the band of instability running across the continent of Africa matches the band of increasing desertification.

Because the Ground no longer fertile for crops is ground that is fertile for violence.

That’s the downbeat bit.

But I said we also need to be optimisitc.

So we should also embrace the fact that there is a way forwad. And it lies in rejecting both the luddite left and the luddite right. It lies in harnessing the power of technology. Because The United Kingdom has a long and proud history of innovation.

From the Norfolk crop rotation system, to the steam engine, to the World Wide Web, we have been at the forefront of technological advancements. And today, we once again are in a leadership position, but in the realms of green technology.

And of course governments played a role, but the private sector has been, is and always will be the most powerful driver of innovation. And that is true in the green revolution as well.

Because ecological sustainability must also be economically sustainable.

I will give you an example. When I was on the London Assembly, as the representative of for Bexley and Bromley in South West London, I visited the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Bexley.

And they were keen to show me how they were reducing waste, reducing the amount of water that they used in their facility, and how they were increasing the levels of recycled BET in their bottles.

And their presentation was slick and professional as you would expect. They were plenty of slides of flowers, sunlight coming through dampled green leaves, smiling children holding hands. Boring.

And When I asked them how much money these improvements would save them, they got really uncomfortable.

And they started saying “you have to understand it’s not really about this.” But I pushed and I pushed hard, and it turned out that these environmental improvements were also saving them money. They were really shy about saying so. But I said they should shout about this.

Because if we are going to encourage other businesses to greener processes, we have to show them that they can save money doing so, otherwise, in an increasingly commercial and investive world, they just won’t do so.

I’ll give you another example. In November 2022, I visited the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, the year after the COP26 summit.

And I met academics and scientists working on Sodium-ion batteries. These are some incredibly exciting alternatives to traditional lithium-ion batteries, making energy storage both reliable and cheap and accessible.

Now these batteries are not small and they are not pretty. But in many parts of the world, robust and cheap energy storage is much more important than small and expensive. But the retail price of these batteries wasn’t the only significant factor.

Because unlike lithium and cobalt and nickel, which are minerals concentrated geographically in a few number of areas, sodium is widely available. And his means that nations, particularly those in the developing world, can produce their own batteries without relying on foreign supply chains.

And this technology has the potential to fundamentally change decentralised energy storage, and in doing so unlocking the full potential of decentralised energy generation.

Reducing the need of, for example, the millions of dirty, diesel generators that are scattered all over the developing world.

And there are plenty of other examples that I won’t get into.

But the point I’m making is that UK is advancing rapidly in renewable energy generation, in clean transportation, and in carbon capture and storage. And we must of course keep pushing and go further, and go faster, and be smarter.

But there is little point in the UK greening our own economy if the developing world, and the rapidly industrialising world, doesn’t do the same. And so one of the key challenges in achieving this transformation is to ensure that these technologies are accessible, and that they are affordable, and that they are scalable.

Because I have seen how crucial it is for developing nations to have access to the same cutting-edge technologies that we take for granted.

It is not in our self-interest to hoard these technologies.

Take Nigeria’s Clean Energy Transition programme, where British expertise has helped roll out solar mini grids across rural areas. And these offer stable electricity supplies to villages that have never been and frankly will never be connected to any kind of distribution.

But this kind of partnership empowers communities to escape poverty through new economic opportunities – whether it be refrigeration of fish in coastal fishing communities or internet access for remote schools.

As I have already said, when you can make these goods sustainable, people are less likely to fall into the hands of extremists or terrorists.

Another example of Britain’s leadership in Africa has been both the green growth and global security of the UK-Zambia Green Growth Compact.

Now Zambia, as I am sure you are all well aware, is home to some of the world’s most valuable minerals, critical to the clean energy revolution.

And we are supporting Zambia to develop its renewable energy infrastructure and modernise its mining sector. Now this creates local jobs,  but more importantly, in my mind at least, it reduces dramatically its dependency on foreign countries, particularly China.

This is exactly the kind of partnership that demonstrates how Britain’s leadership can drive both economic and environmental protection on the world stage and also help stabilise what is a very turbulent geo-political environment.

This is about more than just cutting-edge technology; it’s about creating the foundations for long-term, sustainable growth, but here and other parts of the world.

As Foreign Secretary, I saw first-hand how Britain’s global partnerships can deliver results.

The UK holds a unique position on the world stage – we’re a trusted partner, especially in regions where climate change threatens communities.

We’ve built strong coalitions with countries like Indonesia and Bangladesh, providing technological know-how and financial backing to strengthen their climate resilience.

But Diplomacy is not just about talking; it’s about acting.

And this is why Britain must retain the leadership role. Not because we want to lecture the world, but because we have something worth exporting. Not just goods, but ideas, and innovation, and experience and independence for those counteies.

Conservative Governments have made remarkable strides in offshore wind energy for example.

Our ambitious policies drove investment, positioning the UK as a global clean energy powerhouse.

This is not just about installing turbines either; it’s a strategic vision linking energy policy with our economic and national security priorities.

Sodium-ion batteries, hydrogen technology, British-designed energy systems that don’t depend on the critical minerals that are being captured by regimes that are using supply chains as leverage.

Just as we must become and retain our energy independence in the UK, with hydrocarbon energy, we mustn’t then shift to become dependent on overseas green energy technology either.

This isn’t just climate policy – in fact it not even mainly about climate policy – it’s about economic policy, it’s about foreign policy, it’s about security policy.

Because if we don’t lead, other countries will – and they will do so on terms we that I have no doubt we will not like.

It’s in our national interest to ensure no country – whether China or anyone else – monopolises the resources that will power today’s and tomorrow’s industries.

Now of course rare earth elements are imperative to clean tech and advanced manufacturing, and we mustn’t allow them to become the tool of dependency or coercion.

We’ve seen the consequences in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine of what happens when we become overly dependent on energy supplys from one place.

And the UK has made major strides in offshore wind and next-generation solar technologies, making sure we are increasinggly energy independent.

And laid the foundations for scaling up hydrogen production, vital for decarbonising industries from steelmaking to transportation.

And we cannot afford to rest or wait for others – whether it be India, or China, or the EU – to catch up.

Britain must lead. We must set the pace, we must seize the opportunities. By investing in green manufacturing, we create jobs, we stimulate growth and we drive down costs.

And thanks to Conservative-led policies, the UK hosts four of the world’s largest offshore wind farms, providing abundant clean energy, meaning that every time you switch one of yours lights or charge your phone, you know the power is being generated domestically and that countries that do not share our values are not being relied upon.

And this is a fantastic achievement. And as conservatives we should be proud of that. We have already heard from conversations that Margaret Thatcher had, one of my political heroes, right through until the last conservative government.

But, our approach is not one of isolation.

For example, the UK is a proud member of the Commonwealth, and our membership has helped us to work with nations like India and Nigeria to help them develop climate-resilient infrastructure, to share green technologies, and drive investments in renewable energy projects.

This is what global cooperation looks like.

It’s not just about setting goals, or dictating to others, it’s about working in partnership to make sure we actually get stuff done.

At a time when authoritarian regimes are seek to export their models of dependency and control, Britain’s approach stands apart.

This is why I’m incredibly proud of my country. This is why I am incredibly proud of the work we have done. And this is why other countries seek out UK expertise, not just for what we build, but for how we build it: with transparency, with integrity and with a long-term vision for the ultimate energy independence of our partner countries.

It is a stark difference of approach to those nations who use energy supply to entrap those developing countries.

So both in the UK and in developing countries, farmers should be at the heart of our thinking.

Because farmers aren’t just protecting our countryside, they are sawing degraded land, they are boosting biodiversity and they are locking away carbon, showing the world how green growth can drive prosperity and long-term security.

Now it goes goes without saying, farmers are a crucial part of the solution, not just in feeding and growing populations but in mitigating and ultimately reversing climate change.

Precision farming technologies, such as soil sensors, are revolutionising how we farm – improving yields, reducing pesticide use, and cutting carbon emissions.

Yet despite this, our own farmers continue to face growing challenges. Under this Labour Government, rising costs, mounting bureaucracy, and a lack of support have left many struggling not just to thrive, but even survive.

And although I’ve talked about the international overview, we also need practical, Conservative-led ideas to support our own farming sector. So we back innovation, we don’t penalise farmers for investing in the future and that we ensure fair, competitive markets.

Because farmers don’t want just warm words, they deserve real support, and they deserve to have the freedom to succeed just like any other business in the UK market.

So to recap, a strong, resilient UK energy system – one that is diversified and domestically powered – makes us safer.

That’s why investments in British offshore wind, in nuclear and in hydrogen are not just climate commitments – they are defences against energy shocks and geopolitical instability.

Over the past few years, there have, of course, rightly been discussions within the Conservative Party about how we balance our environmental commitments with the need to secure economic growth and energy independence.

And Conservative environmentalism doesn’t mean, what I believe is an artificial choice between growth and sustainability.

It means creating policies that unlock the potential of new industries while ensuring that we simultaneously protect the environment.

It’s about finding practical solutions to achieve long-term growth without sacrificing our environmental obligations.

The Conservative Party has always been about empowering individuals, free markets, and innovation.

And we must embrace a future where environmental policies encourage investment in new technologies, support the development of new industries, and create the jobs of tomorrow.

We must ensure that these policies are grounded in the reality of economic growth and energy independence.

They must support an agenda that combines sustainability with economic growth – that is essential.

The idea that we must choose between a strong economy and protecting our environment is outdated and wrong.

The future that I believe in is one where these two aims go hand in hand, driving innovation and driving opportunity.

That’s the future I want to see for the United Kingdom and for the world. That is the future that conservatives can drive. And that vision demands boldness and UK leadership, Conservative leadership, and it’s a vision grounded in pragmatism and a recognition that environmental sustainability is not just a matter of good intentions. It’s about creating a stable, a prosperous and a secure world for future generations to come.

Because the future is not something that happens to us – it is something that we create.”