In this special finale to our Anthropy mini-series, we share the keynote speech from The Right Honourable Kemi Badenoch MP, Leader of the Conservative Party, followed by audience reactions and analysis. This unique episode provides insight into current political thinking on sustainability, business, and growth - including Badenoch's controversial comments questioning the UK's 2050 net zero targets and her perspective on "green jobs." After the speech, we gather reactions from business leaders attending Anthropy, including Ben Tolhurst from Business Declares, Alex Barker from Be More Pirate, and Joe Turnball from Bull & Wolf, who offer critical analysis of the speech and discuss its implications for sustainability efforts.

1. Business climate and bureaucracy concerns

• Criticism of excessive regulation and bureaucracy hampering business growth
• Call for focus on "real" productivity rather than "profiting from bureaucracy"
• Concern about rising tax burdens (reaching "70-year high") and regulatory costs
• Distinction between "real business" and what she termed the "business industry"

2. Challenge to Net Zero 2050 target

• Questioning of the 2050 net zero target as arbitrary and lacking a substantive plan
• Claim that decarbonisation efforts are contributing to de-industrialisation
• Assertion that businesses are struggling to meet transition demands without sufficient support
• Commitment to develop "a new plan that actually works" (though specifics were not provided)

3. Vision for national renewal

• Call for a renewed sense of national confidence and shared identity
• Focus on restoring the "social value of business and enterprise"
• Emphasis on a "virtuous circle" where business powers government
• Concern about young people becoming disillusioned and leaving the country

4. Position on government's role

• View that government should focus on core functions like defence and security
• Skepticism about government's role in creating growth or happiness
• Commitment to large-scale policy renewal for the Conservative Party
• Call for business to shape future policy direction

1. Ben Tolhurst (Business Declares)

• Highlighted the contradiction in Badenoch's growth narrative
• Emphasised the impossibility of decoupling economic growth from environmental extraction
• Challenged the "fallacy of green growth" and questioned the carbon budget implications
• Agreed with questioning the 2050 target's practicality but for different reasons

2. Alex Barker (Be More Pirate)

• Observed a disconnect between the speech and workforce realities
• Noted the omission of wealth inequality and environmental concerns until questioned
• Questioned the authenticity of the speech and its generalised approach
• Appreciated the willingness to engage but found the vision lacking

3. Joe Turnball (Bull & Wolf)

• Found the speech initially relatable but increasingly disconnected from the audience
• Objected to the characterisation of green jobs as "not real jobs"
• Noted the contradiction with previous Conservative policy on green jobs
• Questioned whether challenging questions were allowed

1. Political positioning shift

• The speech represents a break from previous Conservative Party position on net zero
• Contrasts with positions of other political parties and international commitments
• Signals potential policy changes should the Conservatives return to...

For the final episode in our Anthropy special series, we speak with Paul Nowak, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), representing 48 unions and 5.5 million workers across every sector of the UK economy. Paul shares a powerful perspective on ensuring a just transition to a sustainable economy, drawing on his personal experience growing up in Merseyside during the industrial changes of the 1980s and 1990s. He discusses the importance of bringing workers to the table when planning for sustainability transitions, the role public services can play in reducing emissions, and why skills development is crucial to sustainable economic transformation. Paul argues that without fairness at the heart of the transition, we risk having no transition at all.

1. Just transition requires concrete plans, not warm words

• Workers in carbon-intensive industries need clear pathways for their future, not distant promises
• People have a right to be around the table and shape their own future
• Without fairness at the centre of sustainability transitions, there will be no transition at all
• Example: Oil and gas workers in Aberdeen need specific plans, not vague assurances

2. De-industrialisation is not a viable path to net zero

• Offshoring emissions by importing steel and other materials is not a sustainable solution
• Maintaining an industrial base in the UK that complements net zero objectives is essential
• Green technologies like electric arc furnaces for steel and carbon capture must be part of the mix
• The UK should maximise domestic supply chains in renewable industries to support good jobs

3. Public services can lead the way in emission reduction

• Government can use procurement power to ensure taxpayer money is spent sustainably
• 4 million union members in public services could help drive the transition
• Leading by example in the public sector makes it easier to ask private sector to follow
• Healthcare delivery models can be reimagined for better patient outcomes and sustainability

4. Workers need to be involved in net zero planning

• Companies should draw up net zero plans in consultation with their workforce
• "Union green reps" can function like shop stewards for climate change in workplaces
• Frontline workers often have the best insights into making operations more sustainable
• Small employers in transitioning sectors need particular support

5. Flexibility and lifelong learning are key skills for the future

• Employers themselves often don't know what skills they'll need in 5 years
• Education system should prioritise adaptability over specific employer requirements
• Retraining throughout working life needs to become normalised
• UK employers invest about half the EU average in skills and need to increase this

1. Establish workplace "green reps"

2. Develop transition plans collaboratively

3. Reimagine service delivery models

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podcast@sustainabilitysolved.org

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In this episode of our Anthropy special series, we speak with Joanna Yarrow, who helps run Human Nature Places, a company creating neighbourhoods that make sustainable living easier. Joanna brings a unique perspective shaped by her upbringing in a Sussex woodland with "Good Life" parents who embraced sustainability before it was fashionable. Her journey from homemade clothes and organic sandwiches to working with IKEA on sustainability reveals how she's navigated the tension between sustainable values and modern aspirations. Joanna discusses how sustainability needs to connect to people's everyday lives to truly succeed, focusing particularly on food and transportation as key impact areas. She offers a refreshing take on joy as an important but overlooked sustainability metric.

1. Making sustainability relatable to everyday life

• Sustainability solutions need to connect to people's daily realities and aspirations
• Starting with people's needs (saving money, time, health goals) makes sustainability accessible
• At IKEA, sustainability was reframed as "creating a better everyday life with lower climate impact"
• Most organisations still fail to ground big existential challenges in people's daily experiences

2. Food and transportation offer the biggest impact opportunities

• Together they represent 60-70% of our climate and ecological impact
• We don't need high-tech solutions like lab-grown meat or flying cars
• Better design of neighbourhoods reduces car dependence
• More plant-based, less wasteful meals make a substantial difference
• These integrate with necessary everyday activities rather than becoming "extra tasks"

3. Joy deserves more attention as a sustainability metric

• Sustainability is often framed as difficult, worthy, and problem-focused, which isn't motivating
• Living sustainably should enhance quality of life - health, social connection, agency, place connection
• There's science showing these factors contribute to happiness and health
• A "joy matrix" could help accelerate sustainability adoption
• People are drawn to positive outcomes more than problem-solving

4. There's no silver bullet - action is what matters

• While we discuss theoretical perfect solutions, we're wasting time
• "Do everything everywhere all at once" is the pragmatic approach
• Focus on high-impact areas that people interact with frequently
• Prioritise solutions that also provide immediate benefits

5. Sustainable placemaking goes beyond efficient buildings

• Human Nature Places uses bio-based building materials
• Designs incorporate active travel (walking, biking) and car sharing
• Community food systems integrate growing spaces and canteens
• Looking at total lifestyle carbon footprint, not just operational building emissions

1. Prioritise food and transportation changes

2. Frame sustainability through personal benefits

3. Add joy and social connection to sustainability initiatives

❓ Got a question?

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podcast@sustainabilitysolved.org

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• Let us know how you implemented these actions
• Submit your case study
• Join our...