UK politicians’ approach to climate change has shifted dramatically over time from cautious support delivered ‘by stealth’ to a more open approach described as ‘pragmatism’.

The research, conducted by Lancaster Environment Centre’s Professor Rebecca Willis and her colleague Dr Steve Westlake, interviewed 15 current Members of Parliament (MPs) and held a focus group with civil society organisations who work closely with government.

The research explored how politicians responded to climate action between 2018 and 2023, a period of mass climate protests, record-breaking heatwaves, and growing political polarisation around the issue.

Previous research showed MPs were often reluctant to speak out on climate change issues for fear of being labelled as ‘climate zealots’ by their constituents. Many promoted climate policies indirectly, talking only about ancillary benefits like cleaner air or lower bills. The current research shows as climate change has become a more mainstream political issue across the country, MPs have changed their approach and become more openly supportive of the UK NetZero targets.

However, the research also discovered this consensus is a fragile one. While MPs are now more confident in making the case for renewable energy and green jobs, they remain wary of policies that directly affect people’s lifestyles, such as reducing car use or the forced replacement of gas boilers. Many politicians now present as pragmatists - with reasonable arguments based on scientific evidence - while rejecting the more extreme or overly ambitious demands for rapid climate action.

This emphasis on pragmatism helps politicians maintain a broad political coalition, allowing them to highlight economic opportunities from renewables and reassure constituents climate action will not undermine living standards. Yet it may also risk slowing the pace of change at a time when scientific evidence calls for urgent transformation.

The research highlights three distinct archetypes among MPs. The ‘young optimists’, who push strongly for ambitious climate action rooted in social justice; the ‘technical transitioners’, who emphasise technology and business-led solutions delivered at a steady pace; and the ‘ambivalent supporters’, who back climate goals in principle but remain cautious about costs and impacts.

Civil society representatives interviewed for the study agreed that climate is now firmly part of the political mainstream. Still, they warned that many MPs may be “paying lip service” rather than driving meaningful change. They also pointed to rising risks of polarisation, with climate policies increasingly caught up in wider culture wars.

Professor Willis said: “Politicians no longer keep quiet about climate. But they worry that they won’t have the support of their constituents if they speak out. Our research shows the need for politicians to develop a confident climate narrative, linking to jobs, prosperity and wellbeing.”

The authors conclude that while the UK’s political climate has shifted positively in favour of implementing climate policies, the language of pragmatism could become a new form of delay, where incremental measures are preferred over transformative solutions. Recognising this dynamic will be crucial for sustaining ambitious climate action in the years ahead.

The study was supported by the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST), funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and published in Climate Change. The full paper can be found here