Global warming policy foundation crumbles as three board members resign

In the United Kingdom, the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF), a prominent climate denial think tank linked to the Conservative Party, experienced significant changes in its leadership during the latter part of 2024. The organization recorded the resignations of three of its board members: Terence Mordaunt, who stepped down in August; Kathy Gyngell, who left in September; and influential Tory peer Lord Frost, who departed in December. These departures raise questions about the stability and direction of the GWPF, particularly as they coincide with a hardening of the Conservative Party's stance toward climate action under the leadership of Kemi Badenoch, a self-identified net-zero skeptic. Badenoch’s leadership has increasingly aligned with allowing greater latitude for personal and private interests to shape climate policy, indicating a potential shift in political ideology that may influence environmental standards in the coming years. The board members' exits also bring attention to the influence of climate change skepticism within British politics, alongside the ongoing debates regarding the necessity for immediate action against climate change. Notably, the GWPF has long been positioned against the broader scientific consensus on climate change, advocating for a narrative that minimizes the effects of carbon dioxide pollution on the environment. Officials from both outgoing members and the GWPF have not provided clarity on the reasons for the departures, leaving political analysts and the public to speculate about the motivations and possible ramifications for future climate policy within the UK.