In a turn of events that has left climate scientists checking their calendars, the Telegraph - the rightwing publication known for its skepticism of green policies - published a lengthy report conceding that "nobody can deny that the UK is getting warmer and high temperatures are becoming a clear threat to homes, nature and food security." The piece, prompted by recent wildfires in Suffolk, was so out of character that independent MP Rosie Duffield noted it came from an outlet "hardly known for their raging lefty/net zero/climate change agenda."

The essay was the latest in a series of surprisingly climate-aware pieces. Columnist Tim Stanley sparked debate with "Climate change is real - and the right needs to get serious about it," while world economy editor Ambrose Evans-Pritchard accused Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch of choosing "an abominable political moment to flirt with climate nihilism," adding that the Tories had "gone Trumpian on the existential issue of our time." Even Sunday Telegraph editor Allister Heath, a known green policy critic, concluded that "the war against global warming has been lost" - though his prescription was simply to adapt.

The flurry has raised hopes among climate advocates that the Telegraph, recently acquired by German media giant Axel Springer, might be shifting its stance. But insiders say there was no internal order to change tone; editor Chris Evans is just "an old-school Fleet Street editor - he likes whatever is causing noise." The pieces likely reflect a Conservative party schism spilling onto its favorite outlet's pages, with centre-right voices pushing back against Badenoch's net zero purge.

Bob Ward of the LSE's Grantham Research Institute sees echoes of the US, where "a noisy and very vocal group on the right of the right wing" dominates climate discussion, while the centre right has "largely disappeared from view." Pro-green Tories like Sam Hall of the Conservative Environment Network welcomed the debate, but skeptics note that the Telegraph's editorial column ultimately backed Badenoch, and its coverage still links rewilding to wildfires.

Richard Wilson of Reliable Media recalled the Daily Express's "green crusade," which was not sustained, and said a credible conversion would require "an end to the wider pattern." Carbon Brief's Leo Hickman wondered what readers and the new owner make of "this vertiginous rollercoaster of denial," especially after editors gave the final word to Badenoch, who doubled down on her net zero skepticism. The Telegraph, for its part, declined to comment - possibly because it was too busy looking out the window at the weather.