Tuesday 18 November 2025
The Rt Hon. Amber Rudd
Reports of the death of the climate consensus may be greatly exaggerated, but there is no denying how far we have drifted from the Paris agreement of 2015. The climate crisis has lost ground to more immediate challenges, but those who paint it as a fad – or a con – are mistaken.
It was inevitable that the climate consensus would give way to climate realism. Real consequences emerge when the low hanging fruit is gone. Governments are wrestling with sluggish growth and limited fiscal headroom. The appetite for regulation is low. We cannot rely on governments alone to deliver net zero.
The Prince of Wales’ call for business to step up was timely. His message, that corporate leadership is essential to tackling climate change and protecting biodiversity, was simple and urgent. He is right. Yet businesses are facing the same economic pressures as governments. How can we expect them to heed this Royal call to arms?
Sustainability must make commercial sense. While price still dominates, many consumers are willing to pay for sustainable goods. Deloitte found more than 60 per cent of workers want their employer to do more on climate.
So why are businesses hesitant? Many have cut emissions but have now reached the hard miles of decarbonising complex supply chains. Too often, they are criticised rather than credited for their efforts. If we want companies to do more, they need recognition, not ridicule, for going the extra mile. Shouting “greenwash” at every imperfect attempt is not only unhelpful, it is damaging to the cause. Credible, incremental action deserves encouragement and recognition.
Such action can extend beyond supply chains. Business must also fund initiatives that prevent emissions and remove legacy carbon. This does not mean a return to dubious carbon credits and misleading “carbon neutral” claims. It means destroying the most damaging greenhouse gases before they wreak havoc on the atmosphere; sequestering carbon geologically; and restoring the planet’s vital carbon sinks.
Biodiversity is the next great opportunity. It aligns public expectation with commercial value and need not add cost. Restoring mangroves, rewetting peatlands, or protecting seagrass meadows all deliver carbon and nature benefits.
These powerful, characterful solutions create positive impact, not only for our planet, but for the brands who invest in them. Regulators must make it easier for companies to tell credible stories about their impact.
Prince William is right: business must step forward. But leadership won’t come from guilt; it will come from opportunity. Paris gave us the vision. We must deliver the reality. That will only happen when climate action and commercial success go hand in hand.
The age of climate realism has begun. Business, not bureaucracy, will determine whether we succeed.
Amber Rudd was Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. She is a founder and non-executive director of the corporate sustainability business Pinwheel.
This article appeared in The Times on Tuesday, 18 November 2025.
