In opposition, the Conservative Party has two potential paths regarding environmental issues. One option is to uphold their green legacy—phasing out coal power, expanding offshore wind projects, and enacting key legislation like the Environment Act and net zero commitments. They could advocate for accelerated decarbonization and hold the government accountable on nature policies. Sam Hall, head of the Conservative Environment Network and a former advisor to Michael Gove, supports this approach. He believes that emphasizing their environmental achievements might have retained voters who switched to the Liberal Democrats and Labour. He argues that downplaying these successes in an attempt to win back Reform Party voters was misguided, as their primary concern was immigration, not net zero.

The other approach, which Rishi Sunak favored during the general election, involves portraying environmental issues as costly and "woke," while criticizing Labour's green initiatives and new onshore renewable projects.

Among the candidates, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick has most notably distanced himself from Theresa May's net zero legislation, arguing that the UK, responsible for just 1% of global emissions, doesn't need to be a climate leader. He advocates for meeting the 2050 net zero target but opposes faster decarbonization than other major economies. However, when considering emissions from flights and imported fossil fuels, the UK's actual contribution is higher. On a per capita basis, the UK ranks 13th among G20 nations for greenhouse gas emissions and 11th for CO2 emissions alone.

Chris Skidmore, the former net zero tsar and ex-Tory MP, criticized Jenrick's stance, suggesting that if the Conservatives wish to remain in opposition, such positioning would help keep them out of power for another decade. He warned that Jenrick's approach risks further alienating mainstream voters, burying the party deeper into irrelevance.

Kemi Badenoch, the shadow secretary for housing, communities, and local government, has not yet clarified her stance. However, during her 2022 leadership bid, she distinguished herself by pledging to scale back net zero commitments, dismissing climate targets as "arbitrary." Representing a rural constituency, she has opposed the construction of pylons intended to transmit renewable energy from offshore wind farms to urban areas.

Priti Patel, the former home secretary and Badenoch's neighbor in the East of England, has also opposed green infrastructure. She has accused Labour of "bulldozing" the countryside with its green initiatives and called for an end to the construction of pylons. However, Patel has also advocated for greater support for the farming sector, emphasizing the importance of funding nature-friendly farming initiatives to meet the UK's biodiversity goals.

Former work and pensions secretary Mel Stride has made the clearest commitment to upholding the UK's climate targets, arguing that the country should continue to lead on the global stage.

Tom Tugendhat, the shadow security minister, has emphasized that environmentalism is a fundamental aspect of Conservatism that needs to be revived within the party. He sees climate change as a significant global security issue, linking environmental security to regional stability and, consequently, to the UK's national security.

James Cleverly, the shadow home secretary, has signaled his intention to stick to climate targets but with a different approach than Labour. He advocates for leveraging private investment rather than relying on state-supported renewables. Cleverly has also backed UK investment in the international Green Climate Fund and would likely participate in global climate summits, unlike Sunak.

Hall concluded that some candidates are returning to core Conservative values, emphasizing that environmental stewardship should be a principle around which the party can unite.