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Kathryn Porter

Screengrab of Kathryn Porter appearing on a Daily Sceptic podcast

Credentials

Background

Kathryn Porter is an energy consultant and blogger who has worked with prominent British climate science denial groups including the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF) and its sister campaign group Net Zero Watch, producing reports attempting to undermine the case for net zero. She has also worked for fossil fuel companies.3“Kathryn Porter,” SEPA Experts, accessed January 16, 2025. Archived January 16, 2026. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/EtLVI

Porter is a regular media commentator on energy and climate subjects, having contributed over 40 opinion pieces to The Telegraph. Porter has called for the UK government to scrap net zero,4Kathryn Porter. “Badenoch must be ruthless in dismantling Britain’s net zero rules,” The Telegraph, October 3, 2025. Archived October 3, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/P5yYD increase fossil fuel extraction,5Kathryn Porter. “North Sea energy would help Reeves fill her black hole,” The Telegraph, September 6, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/yO2A9 and curtail support for greener technological alternatives like electric vehicles.6Kathryn Porter. “Reform is right to target Miliband’s outrageously expensive wind subsidies,” The Telegraph, July 19, 2025. Archived July 22, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/DmUS8

Her media appearances have gravitated towards outlets with a history of platforming anti-climate voices, including GB News, TalkTV, Spiked, The Telegraph and the Daily Sceptic, the media outlet run by climate science denier Toby Young.

In May 2025, the UK’s independent broadcast media regulator Ofcom upheld a complaint about misleading comments made by Porter on-air regarding the scientific credibility of the country’s weather forecasting office.7“Complaint by The Met Office about Morning Glory with Mike Graham,” Ofcom, May 11, 2026. Archived May 13, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. Porter claimed that the Met Office “made up” some temperature data and was using “junk data”, claims which were not challenged by show host Mike Graham.

She has consistently argued in her media appearances that net zero itself, or the technological and political solutions designed to meet net zero, are unattainable and misguided, calling on numerous occasions for the UK’s flagship 2050 net zero target and the UK’s 2008 Climate Change Act to be scrapped.8“Can Britain survive Ed Miliband?,” YouTube video by user @ThinkTent2025, October 7, 2025. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

Porter has called for the UK to expand its fossil fuel production, including fracking, saying at a GWPF event in 2025: “I personally don’t want to stop oil.”9Can Britain survive Ed Miliband?,” YouTube video by user @ThinkTent2025, October 7, 2025. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. She has also voiced some support for new coal power in the UK, saying in 2025: “if people want to come forward with projects to build new coal power stations, then I think they should be considered.”10“Kathryn Porter: Rethinking UK Energy Policy From Net Zero Challenges to Economic Revival,” YouTube video by user @TheTruthContract, September 10, 2025. Archived .mp4 on at DeSmog.

Porter worked for energy company EDF and for gas company Centrica,11“Kathryn Porter,” SEDA Experts, accessed January 16, 2025. Archived January 16, 2026. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/EtLVI before founding the blog turned energy consultancy Watt-Logic in 2016, of which she appears to be the sole employee. Watt-Logic has provided advisory services to energy companies, including oil and gas firms, stating on its website that it advises clients “with conventional energy assets including gas-fired power stations, gas storage, upstream oil and gas production and LNG”.12“Watt-logic.com,” Watt-logic.com. Accessed June 27, 2026. Archived June 25, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

In 2023, Porter declined to answer DeSmog’s request for comment about whether Watt-Logic continues to work with fossil fuel companies for a report published in 2023.13Adam Barnett. “Climate Sceptic Goes Unchallenged on BBC’s Today Programme,” DeSmog, June 22, 2023. When asked again in 2026, Porter did not deny that she works with fossil fuel companies.14Adam Barnett. “Claire Coutinho Touts Anti-Net Zero Reports by Oil-Linked Authors,” DeSmog, January 28, 2026.

Porter has published reports undermining the case for net zero, both via Watt-Logic, and for climate denial think tanks such as the GWPF.15“Porter warns of serious electricity and gas grid risks,” Global Warming Policy Foundation, January 13, 2026. Archived June 8, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. Her reports are regularly covered by right-wing media with a history of hostility to climate action, like GB News and the Telegraph. 


As of February 2026, Porter was an associate on the executive board of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on energy studies,16“People,” [About Us], All-Party Parliamentary Group on Energy Studies, accessed February 10, 2026. Archived May 10, 2026. Archive .pdf on file at DeSmog. whose 2025 membership included, along with Watt-Logic and a number of renewables-focussed energy companies, major fossil fuel firms including Shell, BP, ExxonMobil and RWE.17“PGES-Membership-as-AGM-25,” All-Party Parliamentary Group on Energy Studies, accessed February 10, 2026. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

Stance on Climate Change

May 5, 2026

In an YouTube interview with Spiked, Porter claimed that renewable energy was “expensive, unreliable and dangerous”, calling the government’s policy decisions “stupid”, and accusing it of spreading “misinformation” about North Sea oil and gas production.18Spiked.”’Wind and solar are expensive, unreliable and dangerous’ | Kathryn Porter on Net Zero madness.,” YouTube video by user @spiked, May 5, 2026. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

Porter also claimed that renewables are worse for the climate than fossil fuels, without evidencing this claim.

October 2, 2025

Porter spoke on a panel discussion titled “Can Britain survive Ed Miliband?” hosted by the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF) at Conservative Party conference 2025, alongside a representative of the Institute of Economic Affairs, and Lord Offord of Garvel, who later became Reform UK’s leader in Scotland.19“Can Britain survive Ed Miliband?,” YouTube video by user @ThinkTent2025, October 7, 2025. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. She used the panel to call for net zero to be scrapped and advocate for increased fossil fuel extraction. 

In her speech and during questions, Porter launched a wide-ranging attack on renewable energy systems, calling for the UK government to scrap the 2050 net zero target and the flagship 2008 Climate Change Act by suggesting attempts to use renewable technologies produced in China is “increasing global emissions.” 


She said:

“Net zero policy is destroying the economy. It’s destroying households and pushing households into fuel poverty and it’s increasing global emissions. So if you care about the climate and you care about the economy, you should absolutely be opposed to this policy. And getting rid of the net zero target and the Climate Change Act is in no way incompatible with climate stewardship because our current policy makes those climate parameters worse.”

Later, Porter argued that the UK should consider increasing fossil fuel extraction in the North Sea and fracking onshore, saying so would “bring significant benefits”. 

Key Actions 

May 11, 2026

The UK’s independent broadcast regulator, Ofcom, upheld a complaint brought by the Met Office against the broadcaster TalkTV about misleading comments Porter made on-air.20“Complaint by The Met Office about Morning Glory with Mike Graham,” Ofcom, May 11, 2026. Archived May 13, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

Commenting on a BBC article which reported that renewables had overtaken coal as the world’s largest source of electricity, Porter accused the Met Office of having “made up” temperature data, “removed” historic temperature data, and called data from its monitoring stations “junk data”. 

The complaint was upheld by the regulator after siding with the Met Office’s debunking of Porter’s comments, finding that Talk failed to present with due impartiality by not going to the Met Office for comment, and because the host Mike Graham did not challenge Porter’s comments.

January 12, 2026

Porter published a report under the banner of Watt-Logic highlighting risks to the UK’s electricity grid posed by electrification, with the report’s central claim being that electrification introduces risks to the stability of the grid.21Kathryn Porter. “Electrification – can the grid cope?,” Watt-Logic, January 12, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/8Zlg1

The report was promoted by the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF), with its head of policy Harry Wilkinson saying “Britain’s failed climate policies are on a collision course with reality. Without urgent action now, the country is facing an unprecedented energy crisis.”

May 19, 2025 

Porter published a report via Watt-Logic on the “True costs of net zero,” which argued that it was net zero, rather than UK energy prices being uniquely tied to the price of gas, that was leading to British electricity costs being so high.22“Porter warns of serious electricity and gas grid risks,” Global Warming Policy Foundation, January 13, 2026. Archived February 6, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/8Zlg1

She also argued:

“All the signs indicate that not only are the costs of renewables and their subsidies rising, they are likely to rise still further.”

The levelised cost of one Watt of energy from solar undercut that of both gas and coal in 2020 according to the International Energy Agency, a full five years before Porter claimed that the opposite was true.23Simon Evans. “Solar is now ‘cheapest electricity in history’, confirms IEA,” Carbon Brief, October 13, 2020. Archived May 7, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

February 2, 2025

Porter published a report with anti-climate campaign group Net Zero Watch which argued that the UK’s net zero ambitions would lead to blackouts across the country.24Kathryn Porter. “Blackout Risk In The GB Grid,” Net Zero Watch, February 2, 2025. Archived April 30, 2025.  Archived .pdf on file DeSmog.

She claimed that the UK has “aggressively” built out renewables and that this would destabilise the country’s grid frequency, leading to blackouts and “running headlong” into “disaster”.

September 12, 2024

The Global Warming Policy Foundation published a report written by Porter on the role that international electricity interconnector cables have on the UK’s energy system.25Kathryn Porter. “Interconnectors And Their Impact On The GB Electricity Market,” Global Warming Policy Foundation, September 12, 2024. Archived April 19, 2026. Archive .pdf on file at DeSmog.

November 8, 2023

Porter wrote a report for the Global Warming Policy Foundation about the state of nuclear energy in the country.26Kathryn Porter. “Prospects for Nuclear Energy in the UK,” Global Warming Policy Foundation, November 8, 2023. Archived January 16, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

April 11, 2022

Porter published a report via Watt-Logic where she argued that the costs of renewable energy are high, citing her reason for writing the report as receiving “offensive” comments which disagreed with her view that renewables are expensive.27Kathryn Porter. “Addressing the high real cost of renewable generation,” Watt-Logic, April 11, 2022. Archived November 14, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

2016 

Porter started the energy blog Watt-Logic.28“About Watt-Logic,” Watt-Logic, accessed January 15, 2026. Archived January 5, 2026. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Y2YQV

Affiliations

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