For most of the last two decades, the right of UK politics were all for climate action. Heck, in 2019 a Conservative Prime Minister signed us up to net zero emissions by 2050! But a few short years later both of the two major parties on the right are now very much against 'net "stupid" zero', and everything they think that means. What's going on? What are they trying to do? And - will it work?

I'm joined by Becca Massey-Chase, Head of Citizen Engagement at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). Becca tells me the different attack lines that the right are using against net zero - whether they are persuasive to the average person, and what deeper stories they're tapping into.

We discuss why the right has done such a reverse ferret on climate change, after decades of broad consensus - and how much of it is cynical politics vs sincerely held worldviews. And I ask: if some people's views about climate action can really shift that quickly - what does that reveal about how firmly any of us really believe what we think we believe about it?

You can find Becca's brilliant report here.

Let me know your thoughts on the show - hello@yourbrainonclimate.com. Please rate, review and subscribe, and share the show on socials. And do consider chucking this humble indie podcaster a few quid at www.patreon.com/yourbrainonclimate.

Owl noises = references below.

21:34: Political identity guides climate belief.
22:14: Motivated reasoning.
30:00. Becca's research (again).
40.04: Janan Ganesh's vibes theory of politics (paywalled alas)
43.06: A brilliant piece from Climate Barometer about climate salience.

Your Brain on Climate is a show about human brains vs the climate crisis. It's hosted and produced by me, Dave Powell. You can follow the show on instagram @yourbrainonclimate, and I occasionally put up a Substack.

YBOC theme music and iterations thereof, by me. Thanks as always to Ruth Everett for the voices. Show logo by Arthur Stovell at https://mondial-studio.com/.