Phew. The climate emergency is over!
If like us you think that human activity is causing global temperatures to rise and that action is needed to reduce carbon emissions you will have been as surprised as us to read that the recently elected majority Reform administration has decided one of its first actions would be to axe the climate emergency ( see part of the announcement below at (2) Facebook)
"Council moves to axe ‘climate emergency’ and will begin review into ‘green’ projects
- Climate emergency declaration ready to be scrapped
- All net-zero schemes facing immediate review
- £175,000 annual saving already identified on electricity costs
Suffolk County Council plans to scrap its climate emergency declaration and overhaul environmental spending, putting common sense and value for money first.
The declaration made under the previous administration in March 2019, looks set to be formally reversed at the next full council meeting on 16 July 2026.
Alongside this, the council’s new administration will launch an immediate, council-wide audit of all environmental projects.
Schemes will be expected to demonstrate clear benefits, practical outcomes, or real savings in order to continue. Any that don’t could be stopped, with money reinvested elsewhere."
What we thought was particularly interesting was the claim this action would save £ 175000 on electricity costs. We are not aware any of the suppliers offers a cheaper fossil fuel based tariff particularly as the cost of renewable power is cheaper to produce. All sounds a bit unlikely.
Still we guess they have to come up with some justification for what looks like an ideology driven decision
As an aside we were also struck by the apparent hypocrisy of Philip Faircloth-Mutton the Deputy leader of the Reform Group who, under two years ago, when appointed as Cabinet Member for Environment, Communities and Equality in the previous Tory administration waxed lyrical about environmental schemes in Suffolk. He also said at that time which preceded his defection to Reform
“ Our Carbon Charter is supporting local businesses to take climate action and reduce their carbon emissions. It’s a team effort, no single business can single-handedly slow climate change, or reverse the decline in our wildlife. But together we can, and are, making a difference in Suffolk. The Charter itself recently won a national award, being recognised for the effect that is having on moving our economy towards a low carbon future, and praised it for its very practical approach to helping businesses transition to net zero.”
You can read his full statement here OPINION: Ensuring Suffolk remains a place where everyone can thrive - Suffolk County Council
What we thought was a nice touch was that the Council used the same photograph on both Mr Faircloth-Muttons news release as was used when the announcement of axing the emergency was made!