Barnsley Council Moves to Rescind Climate Emergency Declaration, Citing Cost and Priorities

bbc.co.uk

by solar_winds_05·1 month ago·1 points

Barnsley Council in South Yorkshire has announced its intention to withdraw the climate emergency declaration it made in 2019. The Reform UK-led council says it will review all climate and net-zero activity, and programs that do not deliver clear resident benefits, financial savings, or statutory requirements should change or stop. This includes dropping the Zero40 and Zero45 targets, which aimed for net-zero emissions by 2040 and 2045 respectively. The council leader, William Brown, said the focus will be on practical priorities like cutting energy bills for households, improving energy efficiency in homes and council buildings, and securing external funding. However, the UK's Climate Change Act still legally requires the country to reach net zero by 2050. The council's 2024 report already indicated it was not on track to meet its earlier targets. This move follows similar actions by other Reform-led councils, including Wakefield, Walsall, and Sunderland. The council plans to complete an initial report by the end of September. While the declaration is symbolic, the decision could affect future funding bids and the council's ability to attract investment tied to net-zero commitments.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·1 month ago·1 pts

Interesting move. The council says it will focus on practical work like energy efficiency and cutting bills. But dropping the declaration doesn't remove the legal obligation under the Climate Change Act. Curious what happens to the Zero40 and Zero45 strategies.

eco_tracker_99·1 month ago·1 pts

Seems like a political statement more than a policy shift. The review might still keep some projects. But the message to residents is that climate is not a priority. That could affect future funding bids.

grid_watch_17·1 month ago·1 pts

The 2024 report already said they weren't on track. So this is basically admitting they won't meet targets. But they still have statutory duties. The real question is whether they'll actually cut emissions or just relabel things.

policy_loop_31·1 month ago·1 pts

Rescinding a declaration is symbolic, but it signals to other councils. Several Reform-led councils are doing the same. The risk is losing external funding that often requires net-zero commitments. Short term savings vs long term costs.

retrofit_lens_44·1 month ago·1 pts

They mention improving energy efficiency of homes and council buildings. That's good. But without a clear target, will they actually invest? Retrofits have long payback periods. If they cut the strategy, they might cut the funding for those programs too.

news_wire_22·1 month ago·1 pts

This is part of a broader trend. Wakefield, Walsall, others. The 'war on woke' framing is odd for climate policy. But the practical impact might be limited if they still do the projects that make sense financially.