Wakefield Council set to scrap climate pledges

Wakefield Council looks set to abandon its target to become a carbon-neutral authority by 2030, and cut its climate change budget by £170,000, if Reform UK plans are passed by the authority.

The Reform-led administration voted in June in favour of overturning climate change and biodiversity declarations made in 2019.

Under Labour, the council had declared a climate emergency, pledging to become a carbon-neutral authority by 2030 and a net zero district by 2038.

Cabinet members are expected to vote in favour of a recommendation to "agree a practical approach to end some of this council's climate-related activity" at a meeting on 21 July.

Reform took control of the council in May when it won 58 out of 63 seats at the local elections.

A report to the council said the climate change decisions may have "workforce implications" that could be "subject to formal trade union consultation", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It said: "This is not about denying the science behind climate change, but focusing the work of the council on action that can be delivered and will benefit our residents."

It continued to say the authority's and the district's targets were "unachievable" and "not needed [for] focused action", instead saying the money should be spent on the council's property, vehicles, recycling, improving green spaces and supporting better energy efficiency in the borough."

The council would "unpublish" its climate change action plan and scrap the role of "climate change elected member champion" if approved, the report said.

Meanwhile, 72% of the council's "ageing fleet of vehicles" would be upgraded, while recycling rates would be improved.

Residents and businesses would be supported to become more energy efficient, and more than 600 green spaces in the district would be maintained.

Wakefield Net Zero Partnership - which connects local organisations, businesses, and community groups to share sustainability best practices - would have support withdrawn, and the authority would withdraw from Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission's climate action pledge.

Instead of spending £170,000 on its climate change budget, council leader Karl Johnson said the council's property portfolio of more than 1,600 assets - including civic buildings, offices and commercial property - would be made more efficient.

The report said: "Local government decides how best to serve communities and is best placed to integrate activity on the ground so that action on climate change also delivers wider benefits - for fuel-poor households, for the local economy, for the environment and biodiversity, as well as the provision of green jobs and skills."

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