Reform leader says council first to scrap net zero

A Reform UK council said it will be the first authority in England to scrap its net zero targets.

West Northamptonshire Council has been considering a "refocus and revision" of the authority's climate change targets in favour, the authority said, of focusing limited public resources on initiatives with tangible benefits.

It was noted in the report, due before the authority's cabinet next week, that "the government's target remains for the wider area to be net zero by 2050".

Council leader Mark Arnull said the council wanted to "further prioritise our focus on delivering practical, high-impact projects that make a real difference to people's lives".

In 2022, the then Conservative-controlled council signed up to the UK100 Net Zero pledge, putting in place the targets for the authority, residents and businesses.

In the climate impact section of the cabinet paper, it stated that "the withdrawal of local net zero targets may have some adverse impact on progress in this area, but as long as the council continues to take positive local environmental action tangible improvements can be achieved".

Nigel Stansfield, the cabinet member for environment, recycling and waste, said: "This refocus also reflects the limited ability we have locally to materially affect global warming, given the many factors outside our control."

Dan Lister, leader of the Conservative Group on West Northamptonshire Council, said the previous Conservative administration backed several environmental schemes including electric buses and EV charging points - and drove investment to create high quality green jobs.

If approved, the council's existing strategies will be updated and reports will refer to "environmental impact" instead of "climate impact".

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