Council set to axe climate emergency declaration

Reform UK-led Barnsley Council has announced its intention to withdraw its climate emergency declaration.

The party said a review of all climate and net-zero activity was under way, saying programmes that lacked a clear resident benefit, financial saving or statutory requirement should change or stop.

The council's intention is to withdraw the Climate Emergency declaration from 2019, Zero40, Zero45 and similar net-zero targets, and to direct resources to frontline services.

Council leader William Brown said: "Our focus is on practical priorities that matter to residents, rather than ideological targets and costly political posturing."

Through the Climate Change Act, the UK is obliged by law to reach net zero, nationally, by 2050.

Net zero means balancing the amount of planet-warming "greenhouse" gases produced by human activities with the amount being actively removed from the atmosphere.

Reaching net zero CO2 emissions is essential to limit global warming, according to the United Nations' climate body.

Zero40 is Barnsley Council's environmental strategy aiming for the authority's operations and carbon emissions to reach net zero by 2040, while Zero45 is its strategy to make the entire borough net zero by 2045, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A report from 2024 stated the council was not "on track" to reduce its carbon emissions.

Brown said the council would continue to back practical work that delivered clear benefits for residents and businesses.

This includes activity that helps households cut energy bills, improves the energy efficiency of homes and council buildings, reduces long-term running costs, supports local businesses, secures external funding for the borough or is needed to meet statutory duties.

"The war on woke is only just beginning. We have taken the first steps, but there is much more to do," he said.

"We have stood up for our countryside, got the bins back on track and we are standing firm on our intention to withdraw the climate emergency declaration."

An initial report will be completed by the end of September.

Earlier this year, Reform-led Wakefield Council voted to rescind its climate and biodiversity emergency declaration from May 2019.

Other Reform-led councils such as Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Sunderland Council, South Tyneside Council and Walsall Council also backed a motion to rescind the pledges.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North