Suffolk County Council to scrap climate emergency declaration and net zero targets

Why it matters: The decision will affect a range of council-funded schemes currently operating under the net zero banner, with the authority pledging to audit all such projects and redirect funding from those it deems "purely ideological" towards other priorities.

The details: Hadwen confirmed the council was "looking to undeclare the Council's climate emergency," describing the declaration as "another political gesture that does not fit the aims of this administration." All net zero targets are to be removed, and an audit of related projects will follow.

He said schemes that "deliver growth, jobs and prosperity will be kept," while those considered purely ideological "will be removed and the funds re-profiled into other projects."

The declaration is set to be formally reversed at the next full council meeting on 16 July. The council says early action has already identified an annual saving of up to £175,000 by switching its electricity tariff away from a more expensive "100% renewable" premium.

For context: The move mirrors a decision this week by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, also now led by Reform UK, which axed its Net Zero Newcastle 2030 action plan and proposed to rescind its climate emergency declaration. That council's leader, Jonathan Gullis, described the policies as "political virtue signalling" and "the worst kind of groupthink," saying the authority should focus instead on "clean streets, safer communities, better services and value for money."

What they're saying: Hadwen said: "We are an environmentalist party, and the wellbeing of our coast, countryside and residents is of upmost importance. Any scheme or project that delivers growth, jobs and prosperity will be kept, whereas any that are purely ideological will be removed and the funds re-profiled into other projects."

He added: "There are always efficiencies to be found, and money that could be better spent on other projects that benefit the environment or our communities. We have a clear mandate from the public to deliver a council that is economical and providing good services."

When asked if saving taxpayers' money was a factor for the decision, or if the decision was being made solely because the climate emergency was seen as political gesture, Hadwen responded: "Obviously it is our main aim to deliver savings for the taxpayer and run more efficient services, but the Climate Emergency is a political stunt that we have no interest in the council being a part of."

The bottom line: Suffolk County Council's Reform administration is preparing to formally dismantle the county's climate emergency commitments, with a full audit of net zero projects set to determine which schemes survive and which are scrapped.

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