Politicians are retreating from net zero because they think the public doesn’t care. But they’re wrong | Rebecca Willis

Our research shows people are strongly in favour of measures to tackle the climate crisis. They just need to be listened to

• Rebecca Willis is professor of energy and climate governance at Lancaster University

There's not much that unites our fractured House of Commons at the moment. But on one issue, politicians from all parties seem to agree: the great British public don't really want ambitious action to meet net zero goals. They may concur on this - but they are wrong.

On the right of the spectrum, opposition politicians have been sounding a rapid retreat from the net zero target. In doing so, they are breaking with a strong Conservative tradition - it was Theresa May who signed the target into law in 2019, with cross-party support. Council elections this spring saw victories for Reform UK, which opposes most net zero policies outright, and argues for an economy based on fossil fuels. Meanwhile, the Labour government has net zero as one of its five missions, yet it, too, seems reluctant to make a positive case for action to tackle the climate crisis. It worries there won't be enough support for policies such as replacing gas boilers or managing demand for flying, and it has been further cowed by unhelpful voices off from the former prime minister Tony Blair.

Rebecca Willis is professor of energy and climate governance at Lancaster University