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Nigel Farage’s party has been accused of “betraying residents” in the interests of oil and gas interests after another Reform UK council ditched its 2030 Net Zero targets, pushing back the date by which the council must be carbon neutral by twenty years.
The North Northamptonshire Council executive team voted on Tuesday at the Corby Cube to delay the borough’s Net Zero target from 2030 to 2050, the latest it can happen under UK law.
It follows similar moves by Reform-controlled Durham County Council and West Northamptonshire Council. Mirroring the US Trump administration, Reform councils have also been ditching language about climate change altogether.
Reform councillors’ decision in North Northants aligns with their party’s national stance. Leader Nigel Farage MP has promised to abolish all spending on Net Zero – which would likely include abolishing public investment in renewable energy, home insulation schemes, electric vehicle charging, programmes to reduce toxic pollution, and even walking and cycling infrastructure.
It comes after Reform UK received millions of pounds in funding from oil and gas interests and climate change ‘sceptics’ since 2019, according to separate analysis by DeSmog and the New York Times.
Cllr Emily Fedorowycz, Green Party Leader for North Northamptonshire, described the decision to scrap net zero targets as “a betrayal of local people and a huge missed opportunity.”
She added: “This decision is not about saving money for local residents. It is about following Reform HQ. Is it a coincidence Reform have made this decision when it directly benefits their fossil fuel donors? This is about ideology, not practicality. Meanwhile it is local people who will pay the price – through higher energy bills, through missed investment, and through increased risks from floods and heatwaves.”
A report from the North Northants administration said the move was being made to “reset” the Council’s carbon neutral target, “in line with the policy position of the new administration, given the additional financial commitment required to either fully decarbonise Council operations.”
But the council’s own climate impact assessment on the move notes: “Not having a defined delivery deadline, specifically in relation to climate change legislation as set out in the Climate Change Act 2008, may lead to fragmentation of effort, with climate actions becoming more reactive, less coordinated, and potentially deprioritised in future planning cycles.”
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It added that the change “may undermine the council’s ability to meet long-term environmental and social objectives and may also affect public and stakeholder confidence in the council’s commitment to climate leadership and partner willingness to continue working with the council on climate related projects.”
Residents, business leaders and climate experts attended the executive meeting on Tuesday, with many urging the council to ‘hold its course’. However, the Reform-led executive pushed through the change.
Fedorowycz said the decision was a missed opportunity for the area.
“Two-thirds of English councils have set ambitious 2030 Net Zero targets…These councils are already reaping the benefits. Richmond recently secured £7 million to decarbonise its buildings. Durham [before Reform’s election there in May] has brought in millions through its award-winning climate programme,” she said.
“By choosing d…