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Climate Party
Climate Party
from Wikipedia

The Climate Party is a minor green conservative political party in the United Kingdom.

Key Information

The party was founded in 2022 by Ed Gemmell, a councillor for Hazlemere in Buckinghamshire.[2][3] Gemmell describes the party as a "business-friendly and climate-serious alternative" to the Conservative Party.[3][4][5]

The party stood thirteen candidates in the 2024 general election, targeting Conservative-held marginal seats and MPs who 'obstruct climate action'.[3]

Ideology

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The party's core focus is on tackling climate change and decarbonising the economy by 2030.[6] It describes itself as "100% focused on climate change".[7] Its policy proposals include abolishing all fossil fuel subsidies, implementing "polluter-pays policies" and investing in green technology.[8] It aims to lead the UK to economic revival and increased prosperity through a commitment to net zero by 2030, while restoring nature and decreasing pollution.[9]

Electoral history

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The Climate Party contested the July 2023 Uxbridge and South Ruislip and Selby and Ainsty by-elections, with Gemmell running in Uxbridge and Luke Wellock in Selby.[10][11] Both candidates lost their deposits.[12][13]

The Climate Party fielded thirteen candidates in 2024 general election, with leader Ed Gemmell standing in Wycombe.[14] All Climate Party candidates lost their deposits, with only Gemmell reaching over one percent of the vote in his constituency.[15]

By-elections

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2019–2024

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Constituency Date Candidate Number
of votes
% of
votes
Position Winner
Selby and Ainsty 20 July 2023 Luke Wellock 39 0.1 13th of 13 Labour
Uxbridge and South Ruislip 20 July 2023 Ed Gemmell 49 0.2 15th of 17 Conservative

General elections

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2024 general election
Constituency Candidate Votes %
Banbury Chris Nevile 242 0.5
Bangor Aberconwy Steve Marshall 104 0.2
Bromley and Biggin Hill Karen Miller 94 0.2
Clacton Craig Jamieson 48 0.1
Colchester James Rolfe 74 0.2
Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme Michael Longfellow 146 0.4
Exmouth and Exeter East Mark Baldwin 134 0.3
Greenwich and Woolwich Priyank Bakshi 173 0.4
Leeds North East Stewart Hey 91 0.2
Mid Buckinghamshire Wisdom Da Costa 147 0.3
Northampton South Penelope Tollitt 98 0.2
Salisbury Chris Harwood 127 0.3
Wycombe Ed Gemmell 489 1.1

See also

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The Climate Party is a minor political party in the focused exclusively on addressing the and crisis through business-oriented policies that promote economic prosperity. Founded in 2022 by Ed Gemmell, a former army officer, city lawyer, and serial entrepreneur who serves as the party's leader, it positions itself as pro- and pro-business, emphasizing to achieve net zero emissions by 2030 and restore natural environments. The party advocates harnessing market mechanisms and technological advancements, such as clean industrial revolutions, to drive environmental restoration and job creation, distinguishing itself from more regulatory approaches favored by established green parties. In the 2024 general election, the Climate Party contested 13 constituencies, securing 1,967 votes but no parliamentary seats, reflecting its nascent status and limited electoral impact to date. Led by Gemmell alongside policy experts like Wisdom Da Costa, an independent councillor and accountant specializing in environmental investments, the party targets Conservative-held seats where incumbents are perceived as insufficiently committed to .

History

Founding and Launch (2022)

The Climate Party was established in 2022 by Ed Gemmell, a former British Army officer, city lawyer, serial entrepreneur, and councillor for Hazlemere in Buckinghamshire. Gemmell, who had been elected as a Conservative councillor in May 2019 on a platform prioritizing climate action, founded the party amid growing frustration with the Conservative government's perceived inaction on climate commitments, particularly after the failure to fully implement policies promised under the "get Brexit done" agenda. He positioned the Climate Party as a centre-right, pro-business vehicle to deliver aggressive decarbonization while preserving conservative principles and capitalizing on commercial opportunities in the global transition to a clean economy. The party was formally registered with the Electoral Commission on 22 March 2022, under multiple descriptions including "Climate Party - Nature, Climate, Wellbeing," "Climate Party - 2030 Zero Carbon," and "Climate Party - Eco Economy." This registration enabled the party to participate in elections as a distinct entity, separate from Gemmell's prior Conservative affiliation. Initial motivations centered on accelerating the UK's path to net zero emissions by 2030—earlier than the government's 2050 target—to mitigate climate risks and position Britain as a leader in green industries, drawing on Gemmell's recognition of the economic potential in climate solutions during his professional background in law and entrepreneurship. The launched publicly on 5 September , coinciding with Liz Truss's accession to the premiership. The launch announcement emphasized targeting over 100 Conservative-held seats where MPs had opposed stringent measures, offering voters a principled alternative that combined environmental urgency with business-friendly policies. At inception, the party operated as a single-issue entity focused on , with Gemmell serving as its leader and primary architect.

Early Activities and Expansion (2022–2024)

Following its founding in July 2022, the Climate Party concentrated on articulating a policy framework emphasizing accelerated decarbonization and economic opportunities in the clean energy sector. The party published a blueprint outlining targets such as achieving net zero emissions by 2030, restoring 30% of nature by 2030 and 50% by 2050, and positioning the to capture a share of the projected £10 trillion global services market through private-sector-led . This document framed the party's approach as pro-business and centre-right, critiquing the Conservative Party's delays on climate commitments while advocating for business-friendly measures like tax incentives for green investments. In late 2022 and 2023, the party engaged in initial outreach and organizational buildup, recruiting a team that included eco-entrepreneurs such as Wisdom Da Costa for policy development and for operations, alongside volunteers to support campaign efforts. Leader Ed Gemmell, a former Conservative , conducted media appearances and wrote pieces highlighting the party's intent to challenge up to 110 Conservative MPs perceived as obstructing , aiming to appeal to disaffected voters prioritizing environmental urgency without left-wing economic policies. This period saw the party register formally and begin targeting marginal seats, though membership figures remained modest as a nascent entity focused on niche positioning rather than mass recruitment. By 2023–2024, early expansion efforts included testing viability through by-elections, with candidates fielded in and (July 2023), where the party announced Gemmell's candidacy to spotlight local environmental concerns like air quality, and and (also July 2023), yielding 39 votes (0.1% share) in the latter. These outings served as platforms for refining messaging on integrating climate goals with conservative principles, such as opposing delays in net zero timelines, while building a cadre of candidates—expanding to 13 for the 2024 general election—targeting Conservative incumbents in vulnerable constituencies. The party's activities emphasized advocacy over broad infrastructure, including critiques of major parties' climate records and calls for private-sector mobilization, amid limited media coverage reflective of its minor status.

Ideology and Policies

Environmental Stance and Climate Goals

The Climate Party advocates for achieving net zero carbon emissions across the economy by 2030, a target it proposes to enshrine in , accelerating beyond the national statutory deadline of 2050. This goal aligns with the party's , which emphasizes emissions reductions primarily in heating and lighting (40% of total), (40%), and secondary contributions from practices and (10% each), supplemented by carbon-neutral synthetic fuels for sectors not amenable to . Energy policy centers on a rapid shift to renewables including , and , alongside investments in for complementary technologies such as carbon capture and battery storage. Infrastructure upgrades for electric vehicles and smart grids are prioritized to facilitate this transition, with the tasked to lead through tax incentives, support for small and medium enterprises in clean technologies, and export opportunities in a projected £10 trillion global climate services market. Beyond emissions, the party commits to nature restoration, aiming to restore 30% of Britain's land and sea areas by 2030 and 50% by 2050, while doubling nature-rich habitats and protecting waterways from . It frames these environmental objectives as drivers of , citing indicating up to 840,000 jobs in renewables, , and related sectors, with green roles offering average salaries of £42,600—higher than the national median—and an annual value of £71 billion, based on adapted from 2050 pathways. The approach draws on reports from the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit and , which highlight UK strengths in offshore wind but were originally scoped for longer-term net zero timelines rather than 2030 acceleration.

Economic and Business-Oriented Approach

The Climate Party positions itself as a pro-business entity, advocating for a "clean " that leverages investment to achieve net zero emissions by 2030 while expanding the economy. This approach emphasizes harnessing rather than increasing taxes, with the goal of positioning Britain as a leader in the estimated £10 global climate services market and growing the current £2 economy through advancements in , eco-technologies, and battery storage. Central to their economic strategy is the redirection of resources from to sustainable industries, including the elimination of subsidies for companies to fund incentives for clean technologies. The party proposes breaks, export incentives, grants, and low-interest loans specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in green sectors, alongside subsidies to encourage hiring in climate-related roles. Investments in (R&D), alongside infrastructure upgrades such as smart grids and networks, are intended to create jobs and stimulate sustainable growth without relying on public expenditure hikes. This business-oriented framework integrates environmental goals with economic prosperity, including a commitment to restore 30% of by 2030 and 50% by 2050 through initiatives like a 1 Billion Tree Project, which the party argues will enhance while opening new economic opportunities in eco-restoration and related industries. By prioritizing regulatory reforms to accelerate adoption—such as , tidal, and solar—the Climate Party aims to bolster and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, framing these measures as drivers of long-term profitability and for British businesses.

Conservatism and Broader Principles

The Climate Party positions itself as a centre-right alternative within the green conservative tradition, emphasizing market-driven solutions to environmental challenges over state-directed interventions. Founded to appeal to disillusioned Conservative voters, the party targets parliamentary seats held by MPs resistant to robust policies, offering a business-oriented pathway to net zero emissions by 2030 without the progressive social agendas associated with left-leaning green parties. This approach aligns with conservative preferences for , as evidenced by its blueprint's focus on unlocking growth through tax incentives, export promotion, and regulatory reforms to attract investment in the £10 trillion global climate services market. Beyond environmental goals, the party's broader principles integrate with economic prosperity and national self-reliance, viewing decarbonization as a catalyst for job creation, , and reduced household costs. It advocates harnessing private investment for renewable and eco-technologies, rather than relying on public subsidies, to expand the UK's £2 trillion while enhancing and resource security through and trade diplomacy. These stances reflect a causal link between and conservative priorities like fiscal prudence and competitiveness, positioning as essential for addressing interconnected issues such as the cost-of-living and vulnerabilities. The party critiques short-term political self-interest across the spectrum, proposing instead a unified national effort under strong to rebuild and elevate living standards, explicitly differentiating itself from the Green Party's perceived left-wing extremism. This framework extends to skills development for SMEs and urban greening initiatives that prioritize local empowerment and private enterprise, underscoring a commitment to pragmatic, growth-oriented that treats imperatives as opportunities for British rather than burdens.

Organization and Leadership

Key Figures and Leadership Structure

The Climate Party maintains a compact leadership structure centered on its founder and leader, Ed Gemmell, who established the party on July 28, 2022, to advocate for pragmatic aligned with . This approach emphasizes a small, action-oriented of eco-entrepreneurs, local politicians, and professionals rather than a formal executive or extensive typical of larger parties, reflecting the organization's status as a minor political entity focused on targeted electoral challenges. The hierarchy is streamlined, with Gemmell directing strategy and operations, supported by individuals handling policy, administration, and advisory roles drawn from diverse backgrounds in business, local governance, and environmental advocacy. Ed Gemmell, the party's leader, brings experience as a former army officer, city , and serial entrepreneur; he currently serves as managing director of the charity Scientists Warning , a councillor elected specifically on a platform, and a member of the Local Association's Environment, , Housing, and Transport Board as well as the Local Pension Scheme Committee. His leadership prioritizes a pro-business, pro-climate agenda, positioning the party to contest seats against incumbents perceived as insufficiently committed to emissions reductions. Key supporting figures include Wisdom Da Costa, who leads development and stands as a candidate in Windsor and ; an independent and practising accountant (FCCA), Da Costa has focused on , including piloting a responsible for the Royal Pension Fund, and maintains interests such as to promote . oversees administration, leveraging her foundation in purchasing and supplies management to ensure operational efficiency. Advisors and supporters, such as Marianne Overton MBE—a North District and County , vice-chair of the Local Government Association, and leader of the Independent Network—provide strategic input without formal executive titles, underscoring the party's reliance on networked expertise from independent politicians. This configuration enables flexibility for a nascent , though it lacks the layered committees or national officers found in established parties.

Membership, Funding, and Internal Operations

The Climate Party maintains a small membership base, consistent with its status as a minor political entity registered with the Electoral Commission on , 2022. Exact membership figures are not publicly disclosed, but the party's operational scale—evidenced by fielding 13 candidates in the 2024 —suggests a limited number of active participants, primarily volunteers and supporters recruited through its website's "Join our movement" portal. The organization emphasizes involvement from eco-entrepreneurs, local councillors, and individuals focused on climate policy, without evidence of mass recruitment drives or large-scale dues-paying members typical of major parties. Funding for the Climate Party derives predominantly from small-scale donations, reflecting its nascent and niche positioning. During the first week of the 2024 general election campaign, the party reported receiving £25,000 in donations, excluding public funds. For the 2024 reporting period, total income stood at £34,300, with expenditures of £35,711, resulting in a modest deficit; these figures indicate reliance on individual contributors rather than corporate or institutional backers. The party solicits support via crowdfunding platforms and its website, aligning with a strategy to fund targeted electoral challenges without substantial external financing. No major donors or foreign funding have been reported in available disclosures. Internal operations are streamlined around a compact leadership core, comprising Party Leader Ed Gemmell—a former army officer, , and serial entrepreneur serving as a Buckinghamshire —Policy and Candidate lead Wisdom Da Costa, an independent and accountant specializing in environmental investments, and Administrator Maria Goretti, who handles logistical support. Advisors such as Marianne Overton MBE, a and , provide input on broader . The structure prioritizes policy formulation for net-zero goals and business-driven decarbonization, with candidate selection focused on Conservative marginal seats to pressure incumbents on climate inaction. Decision-making appears centralized yet agile, supported by volunteers for campaigning and administrative tasks, without formalized branches or extensive indicative of larger parties. This model facilitates rapid response to debates but limits scalability, as operations remain volunteer-dependent rather than professionally staffed.

Electoral Performance

By-Elections (2019–2024)

The Climate Party, founded in September 2022, did not contest any parliamentary by-elections between 2019 and mid-2023, as it was not yet registered or active during earlier contests in that . The party's first electoral forays occurred during the two by-elections held simultaneously on 20 July 2023: and , and and . In both, the Climate Party candidates received fewer than 50 votes, falling well short of the 5% threshold required to retain their deposits, reflecting the challenges faced by minor parties in gaining and support amid dominant on issues like the (Ulez) expansion in and broader Conservative losses elsewhere.
By-ElectionDateCandidateVotesVote SharePosition
Uxbridge and South Ruislip20 July 2023Ed Gemmell (Leader)490.2%13th (of 17)
Selby and Ainsty20 July 2023Luke Wellock390.1%13th (of 13)
No further by-elections were contested by the Climate Party through 2024, including notable contests such as (February 2024) and Kingswood (March 2024), where the party did not field candidates despite opportunities to highlight its platform on accelerated net-zero policies and business-led decarbonization. This limited participation underscores the party's nascent organizational capacity and focus on building toward the 2024 general election, where it expanded to 13 constituencies.

General Elections (2024 Onward)

The Climate Party contested the 2024 , held on 4 July 2024, marking its debut in a national parliamentary vote by fielding 13 candidates across various constituencies. The party received a total of 1,967 votes, equivalent to 0.01% of the national vote share, and won no seats in the . Performances were consistently marginal, with vote shares below 1% in most contested seats; the party's strongest showing came in Wycombe, where it obtained 1.1% of the local vote. In , the candidate secured 242 votes out of approximately 42,000 cast. Other results included 127 votes in (0.25% share) and 134 votes in . Lower tallies, such as 74 votes in , underscored the party's limited voter appeal amid competition from established parties. No general elections have followed the 2024 contest as of October 2025, with the next scheduled no earlier than 2029 under the current parliamentary term.

Reception, Criticisms, and Impact

Support from Conservative and Business Sectors

The Climate Party positions itself as a centre-right alternative appealing to Conservative voters who favor decisive without compromising economic priorities, attracting support from individuals frustrated with the mainstream shift toward skepticism on net-zero targets. Founded in July 2022 by Ed Gemmell, a former army , city lawyer, and Buckinghamshire councillor with Conservative affiliations, the party explicitly targets constituencies, aiming to challenge MPs seen as obstructing progress while upholding "true conservative values" like support and fiscal realism. Business-oriented backing has emerged from eco-entrepreneurs aligned with the party's vision of leveraging climate for industrial growth and export opportunities in decarbonization technologies. Party chairman Steff Wright, who leads the Gusto Group in property development, has advocated for the party's role in reframing the election around innovation-driven climate solutions, emphasizing prosperity through green markets rather than regulatory burdens. The leadership team includes figures like Wisdom Da Costa, an independent councillor focused on , reflecting internal support from pro-business, climate-focused independents. The party's highlights potential economic gains, such as capturing shares of the estimated £10 trillion global climate services market via British-led advancements in , which resonates with sectors viewing as a competitiveness driver amid international transitions. This approach has drawn niche endorsements from advocates urging accelerated decarbonization for job creation and , though widespread institutional support from major conservative or corporate bodies remains limited, particularly as the Conservative Party pledged in October 2025 to repeal the Climate Change Act in favor of prioritizing affordable energy over emissions targets.

Criticisms from Left-Leaning Groups

Left-leaning environmental and socialist groups have largely overlooked the Climate Party due to its marginal electoral presence and focus on contesting Conservative seats, resulting in few direct public criticisms. However, the party's centre-right orientation and reliance on business-led decarbonization—aiming for net zero emissions by 2030 through and —clashes with demands from radical greens for anti-capitalist restructuring. In September 2024, leftwing members of the of established the pressure group Greens Organise to advocate an "internationalist, anti-capitalist and ecologically transformative agenda," critiquing electoral strategies that assimilate into mainstream politics without confronting corporate power, a dynamic they implicitly contrast with pro-market green parties like the Climate Party. Socialist outlets have similarly argued that market-oriented , such as incentives for green technology without public ownership or wealth redistribution, fails to dismantle the profit-driven systems exacerbating and emissions. This perspective holds that true requires prioritizing in high-emission sectors over growth-focused policies, viewing the Climate Party's blueprint as perpetuating inequality under a green veneer.

Criticisms from Climate Skeptics and Right-Wing Critics

Right-wing commentators have lambasted the Climate Party for its narrow emphasis on rapid decarbonization, branding it a "climate zealotry party" unlikely to garner meaningful support amid competing priorities like fiscal restraint and national sovereignty. The blog, a prominent conservative outlet, highlighted the party's low-profile launch and questioned its viability, suggesting its platform echoes the fervor of activist groups rather than . Climate skeptics, who contest the urgency of anthropogenic warming, view the party's 2030 zero-carbon target as predicated on unreliable models that overestimate to CO2, ignoring such as stable hurricane frequencies and greening effects from elevated atmospheric CO2 levels documented in satellite vegetation indices. Such critics, including those aligned with —which captured significant votes in by opposing net-zero mandates—implicitly reject the Climate Party's approach as economically burdensome, projecting trillions in costs for marginal temperature reductions based on integrated assessment models critiqued for inflated damage functions. The party's explicit strategy to challenge over 100 Conservative incumbents opposing has drawn accusations of vote-splitting on the right, potentially handing seats to Labour in a fragmented electorate, as evidenced by similar dynamics in by-elections where minor parties eroded majorities. Figures like , leading a faction skeptical of net-zero timelines, represent broader right-wing resistance to the party's vision, prioritizing and affordability over accelerated green transitions amid evidence of policy-driven energy price spikes.

Debates on Policy Feasibility and Economic Realism

The Climate Party advocates for achieving net zero by 2030 through accelerated investment in sources such as solar, wind, and , alongside advancements in battery storage, energy efficiency, and eco-technologies. The party contends that this timeline is feasible by aligning with methodologies like the Centre for Alternative Technology's "Zero Carbon Britain" report, which outlines pathways emphasizing and renewables to meet stringent decarbonization goals without relying heavily on public funding. Proponents within the party, including leader Ed Gemmell, argue that such policies would position the to capture a share of the projected £10 trillion global climate services market by 2030, fostering , job creation in high-value industries, and export opportunities in clean technologies, thereby offsetting costs through increased GDP and avoiding tax hikes. However, independent analyses question the technical and infrastructural feasibility of compressing the UK's statutory net zero target from 2050 to 2030, highlighting risks of supply disruptions and insufficient scaling of supporting technologies. The (CCC), the UK's statutory advisor on emissions targets, has assessed that even the 2050 pathway demands rapid deployment of renewables, , and carbon capture, with current policies covering only 38% of required 2030 emissions reductions under more modest interim goals; accelerating to full net zero two decades earlier would necessitate unprecedented build-out rates for grid infrastructure, storage, and supply chains, potentially exceeding historical precedents in nations like or . Critics, including economists, point to empirical data showing that aggressive decarbonization timelines correlate with intermittent supply vulnerabilities, as evidenced by recent European wind droughts requiring backups, raising doubts about reliability without massive nuclear expansion or unproven breakthroughs. On economic realism, the party's blueprint posits net benefits from a "clean industrial revolution," with upfront investments recouped via productivity gains and new markets, estimating no net fiscal burden on public services. In contrast, fiscal projections for the existing 2050 trajectory already indicate average annual costs equivalent to 0.2-0.8% of GDP, encompassing £108-116 billion in net expenditures through 2050 for , subsidies, and transitions, with higher upfront capital demands leading to short-term fiscal pressures. Extending this to 2030 would amplify these figures substantially—potentially requiring £75 billion in targeted regions like alone—while empirical models from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) underscore that unchecked global warming imposes greater long-term costs, yet domestic acceleration risks trade-offs in energy affordability and industrial competitiveness absent coordinated international action. These debates underscore a tension between the party's optimistic, market-driven vision and broader evidence-based assessments emphasizing phased implementation to mitigate economic disruptions.

References

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