Climate change blog - examining changes to local councils' climate policies
In this month's blog, David Dale, Policy Officer for ADEPT, discusses recent developments in some local authority climate policies and the implications these changes may have.
Extreme weather events
Following the series of heatwaves earlier this summer, in July the Met Office announced in its annual report that extreme weather is the new normal, the Environment Agency declared droughts in some regions, and some water companies introduced hosepipe bans to help manage water shortages.
Yet against this background of evidence of the impacts of climate change, a small number of local authorities are reviewing or reversing their local climate action policies.
It is important for ADEPT and its members to examine how, why and where changes to policy are being made so that we can continue to support directors of place across the country. Finding ways to collaborate and share information for the benefit of communities, residents and businesses is essential as we move forwards in uncertain times.
Changing political climate
Even before the local elections of May 2025, the cross-party political consensus on reducing carbon emissions had started to shift. When in 2019 the UK became the first major economy in the world to commit to reducing its carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, there was little disagreement among MPs from all parties.
Public concern about climate change was being expressed in various ways including through Extinction Rebellion protest action and school students’ marches inspired by Greta Thunberg. Many local authorities declared climate emergencies and revised their corporate plans to include urgent action in their areas; working with partners and local communities to combat the negative impacts of climate change and deliver net zero carbon by 2050 at the latest.
Six years on, the political climate is very different. There is no longer a consensus at Westminster, and reaching net zero by 2050 has become a political dividing line.
Although some climate targets had already been slowed by the previous government, the new government restated its commitment to the 2050 target and added its ambition to achieve clean power by 2030. The Green Party and the Liberal Democrats want to accelerate progress towards decarbonisation, but in March this year the Conservative leader said that net zero 2050 was impossible and unaffordable.
For the first time there is now a mainstream party, Reform UK, arguing that net zero is damaging the economy and should be scrapped.
Events in local authorities
On 1st May 2025, local elections were held in 23 of England’s councils. Reform UK won the largest number of seats with 677, amounting to 41% of all seats up for election. The party gained majority control of 10 councils; six counties and four unitary authorities, including Durham and West Northamptonshire, and a controlling interest in a number of others. They also won the mayoral elections in the new combined authorities of Greater Lincolnshire and Hull & East Yorkshire.
On 16th July 2025, Durham County Council became the first local authority to rescind its climate emergency declaration. In a motion proposed by its Deputy Leader, the Council rescinded the Climate Emergency Declaration made in February 2019 and instead declared a children’s social care emergency as the most urgent threat to wellbeing and financial stability in the county.
Additionally, on 16th July West Northamptonshire’s Cabinet decided to scrap the council’s net zero targets. The Cabinet report said that “In line with the policy position of the new administration, the decision has been made to no longer retain the 2030 and 2045 net zero targets…in recognition of the limited ability of the Council to materially affect global warming given the many factors outside of its control and the limited funds it has access to it is considered the Council can achieve better results for local people and for nature by focusing on matters within its control and for which it has significant influence.” This decision was called in and reviewed by the Place & Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting in August which decided that no action should be taken on the Cabinet’s original decision, so the council will remove its local net zero targets and progress with work on a new Sustainability Strategy for the benefit of local communities.
At Wiltshire Council where the party now has ten councillors, the Reform UK group unsuccessfully proposed a motion to abandon its 2030 carbon reduction target, saying that "This council should not be constrained by a motion demanding unachievable county-wide 2030 carbon reduction targets as set out in the 'climate emergency motion', and so repudiates it."
It remains to be seen whether other councils will review or reverse their local climate action policies and what impact this might have on wider policies, including those around warmer homes and active travel.
Changing dynamics
The changes outlined above are happening at a time when local authorities collectively have called for stronger powers and duties in relation to climate change.
There was an impressive response to the LGA’s recent consultation on climate statutory duties, with near unanimous support in principle including ADEPT’s own response. The LGA has now adopted the headline position that local authorities need statutory duties and powers, sufficient funding, and robust support to lead on climate action. The success of Reform UK at the May 2025 local elections means that the party now has its own political group on the LGA. This will bring a new dynamic to LGA decision-making which is based on cross-party consensus.
Place directors have a key role in supporting a new administration, helping new members get up to speed quickly, and managing the change process for stakeholders, constituents and staff alike. Place services, from potholes to planning and waste to net zero, always have a high public and political profile. They also have immense potential to improve people’s lives.
The full implications of these potential shifts in environmental policy are still emerging. Local authorities will need to balance emerging and changing priorities and community needs as they adapt their policies and service delivery, including how to approach climate change.
Further information
Author
- David Dale, ADEPT Policy Officer
