Sam Hall (York, 1990) has spent a decade in the shadow of power in the interstices of

the Conservative Party.

He was an advisor to current Cabinet Secretary

Michael Gove

when he served as Secretary of State for the Environment, and he continued his "blue" and "green" concerns at the Bright Blue "think tank", where the more liberal wing of the "tories". Now he heads the Conservative Environmental Network (CEN), the organization created a decade ago to advocate for environmental causes from the right. More than a hundred Conservative MPs have joined the network, which now spreads to half a dozen countries; among them, Spain.

The environment has until now been the exclusive territory of the left. What has changed for the right to finally enter the rag? It is true that, at the level of public awareness, the environment has long been a "left issue" . But in the UK, and for decades, Conservative leaders - from

Margaret Thatcher

to

Boris Johnson

- have shown leadership on environmental issues. Although the issue has not been central to the policy of their governments, substantial progress has been made in reducing emissions and protecting habitats. Some of the most successful environmental policies are rooted in conservative principles, such as highly competitive auctions to increase the capacity of renewables. As we move towards the most difficult phases of decarbonization, it is necessary to put the emphasis on those principles: the free market, private property and technological innovation. And is there not some opportunism in that turn of the last months? environmental policies by the center-right have been growing significantly for years,In large part because it has increased people's concern about the decline of wildlife, the impact of climate change, the effects of pollution or the proliferation of plastics. At the same time, conservative voices have been heard in environmental debates. In the last elections in the

UK

, a poll put Conservatives seven points ahead of Labor on environmental issues. We want to show that center-right parties can win politically with a green agenda. But we cannot forget that climate denialism comes from the right, and from politicians like Donald Trump. Isn't it going to be difficult to leave that image behind? that there has always been a green thread in the Conservative Party and that there has always been a concern for those issues within the mainstream. We have also had climate skeptics in the movement, but they have been on the margins and are now a minority. I wouldn't say

Donald Trump

he is a true conservative: his positions on the environment and the economy have been short-term and morally reckless. To what extent is Trump's connection to Boris Johnson taking its toll on the "premier"? Can we believe in his "green conversion" by now? Boris Johnson always made it clear that he disagreed with Donald Trump on the issue of climate change. With

Joe Biden

As president, ambitious climate action is high on the agenda, we just saw it at the G7 summit. The "premier" has always been an environmentalist. He was as Mayor of London, creating miles and miles of bike lanes and boosting what would later become the Ultra-Low Emission Zone in central London. It is true that in the last year he has spoken more about climate change, which is inevitable in his capacity as host of COP26 in Glasgow in November. But his green policies have always been there, even when he was foreign secretary, with the global action against the illegal trafficking of species. Boris's father, Stanley Johnson, has incidentally been appointed "ambassador"From the network of conservative environmentalists Do you hope to have a direct influence on your son? Stanley's passion for the environment has a long history, and it has undoubtedly been one of the great influences on the prime minister. He was a pioneer of environmental research in the Conservative Party and a defender of biodiversity and action against climate change in the

European Union

and the

World Bank

. And indeed he has been appointed "ambassador" of CEN to increase environmental awareness among conservatives and raise the bar of the Government's commitment to international summits. CEN is extending its networks to other countries, including Spain ... Yes, we have intensified contacts with conservative legislators from around the world in the run-up to COP26. It is crucial that conservative voices are heard in favor of action on climate change. We also want to be a forum on climate policy around the world and share perspectives in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany or Spain. We are very pleased to know that the Oikos "think tank" has been created in Spain,and we hope to hold Spanish-British meetings with center-right MPs willing to discuss how climate change can be tackled in a free market context. What are the expectations for COP26? Will the United Kingdom measure up as an international leader? COP26 will be the most critical meeting to keep the objectives of the Paris Agreement within reach and avoid a warming of more than 1.5 degrees. Financing for developing countries, so that they can mitigate the effects or adapt to climate change is the other great challenge. It is certainly going to be a great moment for the UK and a litmus test for both our national policies and our diplomatic strategy. But we will not solve climate change inWhat are the expectations for COP26? Will the United Kingdom measure up as an international leader? COP26 will be the most critical meeting to keep the objectives of the Paris Agreement within reach and avoid a warming of more than 1.5 degrees. Financing for developing countries, so that they can mitigate the effects or adapt to climate change is the other great challenge. It is certainly going to be a great moment for the UK and a litmus test for both our national policies and our diplomatic strategy. But we will not solve climate change inWhat are the expectations for COP26? Will the United Kingdom measure up as an international leader? COP26 will be the most critical meeting to keep the objectives of the Paris Agreement within reach and avoid a warming of more than 1.5 degrees. Financing for developing countries, so that they can mitigate the effects or adapt to climate change is the other great challenge. It is certainly going to be a great moment for the UK and a litmus test for both our national policies and our diplomatic strategy. But we will not solve climate change inFinancing for developing countries, so that they can mitigate the effects or adapt to climate change is the other great challenge. It is certainly going to be a great moment for the UK and a litmus test for both our national policies and our diplomatic strategy. But we will not solve climate change inFinancing for developing countries, so that they can mitigate the effects or adapt to climate change is the other great challenge. It is certainly going to be a great moment for the UK and a litmus test for both our national policies and our diplomatic strategy. But we will not solve climate change in

Glasgow

. This is a challenge that will continue year after year, over several decades, although the leadership of the United Kingdom will be important.Despite the ambitions of the British Government (a 68% reduction of emissions in 2030), they are emerging major contradictions such as the Cumbrian coal mine or the continued oil exploitation of the North Sea come to light Isn't the time to end fossil fuel subsidies? UK leadership needs to go beyond the goals, no matter how daring they are. And the truth is that we are the G20 country that is reducing its emissions the fastest, we have practically stopped burning coal to produce electricity, we have stopped financing oil projects abroad and we have put a moratorium on "fracking",at the same time we have increased offshore wind capacity more than any other country in the world. But it is true that there are decisions that occasionally seem to go against the goal of zero emissions. In the two specific cases that you mention, there have been mitigating actions, such as the open investigation of the new coal mine to find out its "compatibility" with the climate objectives, as well as the new oil and gas exploitations. Still, there are parts of our climate strategy that are not covered yet, like efficiency cures in buildings or changing heaters. These are gaps that the Government has promised to fill this year.There is fear that Brexit will translate into a lowering of environmental standards and new points of litigation with the EU To what extent is there that risk? The EU has certainly helped us raise the bar on issues such as the quality of water or habitat protection. But some EU policies have had a negative environmental impact, such as incentives for farmers to dedicate the maximum of their land to intensive production. Farmers have to be good stewards of the environment, and in this sense a new system is going to be created that precisely rewards farmers for storing carbon, protecting wildlife or improving air quality. Faced with an issue like climate change, the UK and the EU should be aligned on a global stage.That is why it is vital to continue working together to make the Glasgow summit a success, despite the lack of agreement that may exist on specific points of the application of Brexit. In Spain these days "Green Philosophy" is published (Homo Legens ) by Roger Scruton, considered the "bible" of conservative environmentalism To what extent did Scruton's ideas influence the creation of CEN? Sir Roger was undoubtedly one of the greatest influences on green conservatism, particularly for his idea of "oikofilia", or instinctive love for our home, which is at the root of local action to protect the environment.In Spain these days "Green Philosophy" (Homo Legens) by Roger Scruton is being published, considered the "bible" of conservative environmentalism To what extent did Scruton's ideas influence the creation of CEN? Sir Roger was undoubtedly a one of the major influences on green conservatism, particularly its idea of ​​"oikofilia", or instinctive love of our home, which is at the root of local action to protect the environment.In Spain these days "Green Philosophy" (Homo Legens) by Roger Scruton is being published, considered the "bible" of conservative environmentalism To what extent did Scruton's ideas influence the creation of CEN? Sir Roger was undoubtedly a one of the major influences on green conservatism, particularly its idea of ​​"oikofilia", or instinctive love of our home, which is at the root of local action to protect the environment.or instinctive love for our home, which is at the root of local action to protect the environment.or instinctive love for our home, which is at the root of local action to protect the environment.

Edmund Burke

is considered the grandfather of modern conservatism, and Sir Roger updated some of his great contributions, such as the need for an intergenerational contract, between the living, the dead and the unborn, to protect nature in "small sections" and wherever we live.

That is for me the quintessence of the conservative cause, which has been precisely focused on preserving the environment with community actions at the local level.

Sir Roger also came from the traditionalist wing of the party and showed that the environment is not an exclusive concern of the liberal wing, but that at heart it can be a unifying cause for all conservatives.

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