Reform could scrap climate emergency declaration

Reform UK is proposing to ditch a council's declaration of a "Climate and Environment Emergency" that was made five years ago.

Just months after North Northamptonshire Council was established in 2021, the authority, then Conservative-run, declared a climate emergency.

Leon Gibbs, a Reform councillor who has proposed the new motion, said: "We don't believe it makes sense to say that we're operating in a state of emergency while simultaneously working towards a target 24 years away."

Conservative, Labour and Green opposition councillors have all criticised the move ahead of Thursday evening's vote.

Gibbs added: "We care deeply about the future of North Northamptonshire's environment and believe the council should focus its efforts and resources on the areas where it can make a real difference."

The motion, to be considered by full council at a later date, states "protecting and enhancing our natural environment, reducing unnecessary energy consumption and making responsible use of public resources do not depend upon maintaining a declaration of emergency".

Last year, the Reform executive of the council voted unanimously to scrap the target to be carbon neutral by 2030, moving it to 2050 in line with the national target set by the last Conservative government and reaffirmed by Labour.

The council's carbon neutral target date of 2030 was also set by the Conservatives, in 2021.

At the time, the authority adopted a set of recommendations to:

• Reduce emissions to lessen the causes of climate change
• Adapt to the current and future impacts of climate change
• Raise awareness in communities to the causes and the impacts of climate change

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.

The Labour MP for Kettering, Rosie Wrighting, said: "We are very clearly at a place where national and local governments need to do everything they can to promote climate policies and prevent us moving closer towards a climate crisis.

"Coming out of a summer when we have seen extreme heat, I've spoken to both patients and workers who were at Kettering General over the summer dealing with that heat. Winter's where we see flooding across Northamptonshire. It's obviously disappointing."

Helen Harrison, leader of the Conservative group, said: "This motion is a complete waste of time. Reform have already made their decision on managing climate change in North Northamptonshire and this motion changes nothing.

"I think what this really is is restless backbenchers trying to assert their Reform credentials."

Ben Williams, deputy leader of the Green group, said: "This is the first motion Reform have submitted to this council since May last year.

"It is boring, predictable, and offers literally nothing to the residents of North Northamptonshire.

"Reform's first motion is to take something away, not to implement a new solution or idea."

Do you have a story suggestion for Northamptonshire? Contact us below.

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.