Reform UK now runs three large councils in the East of England and has moved to cut or review spending on net zero initiatives. Essex scrapped its net zero strategy, Norfolk ordered a review of green spending, and Suffolk canceled its climate emergency declaration. The councils argue these projects waste money under tight budgets. Opposition parties and environmental groups warn that cutting these programs is a false economy. Many green projects also fund regeneration and jobs, and some are partly paid by government grants that would have to be returned if stopped. The Climate Change Committee says net zero is more cost-effective than relying on fossil fuels. It remains unclear how much will actually change. Some councils may rebrand climate spending as sustainability or energy efficiency without dropping the projects. The final impact depends on what each council decides after its audits.
