David Cameron made the environment a central plank of his modernisation agenda. Upon becoming Prime Minister in 2010, he famously pledged to lead the ‘greenest government ever’. For him, environmental concern married together the traditional conservative idea that we have a duty to pass on a good inheritance to future generations, and the modernising idea that people value quality of life, as well as economic growth. By contrast, little is known of Theresa May’s views on the subject. After her first party conference as leader, however, the early signs for the environment are positive.