Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, frequently mocks the concept of “net stupid zero,” yet his 15-year entrepreneurial journey reveals a consistent endorsement of sustainability and renewable energy projects.
Reform UK has embedded opposition to green energy and net zero policies into its core agenda. Nigel Farage, the party’s founder, has dismissed net zero initiatives as “madness,” while the party advocates lifting the fracking ban on fossil fuels. Notably, Kent, one of the first councils under Reform’s leadership, recently withdrew its climate emergency declaration.
Despite this political stance, companies under Tice’s leadership since 2011 have publicly committed to energy conservation, reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and environmental stewardship. One firm communicated to investors the launch of a “green charter” aimed at lessening its climate impact and later appointed a dedicated sustainability manager to enhance energy efficiency efforts.
Another enterprise highlighted its dedication to lowering emissions for improved air quality, boasting the installation of rooftop solar panels that have cut “hundreds of tonnes of CO2” emissions.
Tice’s social media presence, however, reveals a dismissive attitude toward climate crisis warnings and mitigation strategies. In 2023, he declared, “There is no climate emergency or crisis.” He also criticized solar farms, claiming they threaten food security, jobs, and property values.
He has popularized the phrase “net stupid zero,” branding the UK’s efforts to eliminate fossil fuel emissions as “the most expensive self-inflicted damage in recent British history.”
Steff Wright, a sustainability entrepreneur and former tenant of Tice’s properties, observed a stark contrast between Tice’s public rhetoric and the sustainability commitments outlined in the annual reports of CLS Holdings and Quidnet Reit, companies he leads.
Wright commented, “These documents clearly show that Tice recognizes the financial, social, and environmental advantages of investing in sustainability initiatives. As a business leader, his decision to helm companies that actively reduce carbon footprints and adopt energy-saving technologies indicates a pragmatic business rationale.”
When Tice joined CLS Holdings as deputy CEO in 2010, the company pledged a “responsible and progressive approach to environmental challenges,” promoting alternative energy sources among other measures.
Upon his promotion to CEO in 2011, CLS introduced its green charter and appointed a sustainability manager. By 2012, the company celebrated the completion of a “net zero emissions” building, with the board acknowledging its societal and environmental responsibilities and striving to minimize or positively influence its impact.
The 2013 report identified climate change as a “sustainability risk” necessitating board oversight, specialized staff, and enhanced due diligence. By 2014, CLS proudly informed shareholders it had surpassed its CO2 reduction goals.
In 2015, Tice founded Quidnet Reit, a property investment firm. Its inaugural full financial report in 2021 coincided with Tice’s chairmanship of Reform UK and his vocal opposition to “net stupid zero.” Yet, Quidnet maintained a focus on curbing fossil fuel emissions.
The 2021 report emphasized the company’s commitment to cleaner air through emission reductions, detailing solar power investments projected to cut CO2 emissions by approximately 70 tonnes annually.
Quidnet continued these efforts in 2022 and 2023, reporting that its solar projects saved hundreds of tonnes of CO2 each year. However, following media coverage of these environmental initiatives, the latest report omitted any mention of them.
Wright noted, “While solar and energy efficiency projects have benefited Tice’s property ventures, he now seems eager to dismiss such schemes as risky to investors when it suits his political agenda.”
Responding to critics, Tice argued that comparing his business practices with his political statements is misleading. “I have never opposed reducing emissions, whether CO2 or others, especially when done efficiently through technology,” he said.
He distinguished between rooftop solar panels, which he praised for their dual use and lack of subsidies, and large-scale solar farms on farmland, which he condemned as “insane,” heavily subsidized, and often involving hazardous battery storage systems.
Tice emphasized that during his tenure at CLS, net zero was not mandated by law. His main objection lies with the multibillion-pound subsidies, the rise in electricity prices driven by renewables, the resulting loss of competitiveness for British industries, and the destruction of hundreds of thousands of jobs.
He also criticized ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria, labeling it “Extremely Stupid Garbage,” and noted that many companies and banks are now abandoning these frameworks.
“My stance has always been consistent and rational, never involving subsidies. That’s a crucial distinction,” Tice concluded.
