The new Reform-led administration at Essex County Council has scrapped the authority’s net-zero policies, with council leader Peter Harris describing them as “stupid”.
Harris said the measures were making local residents poorer and vowed to abandon any future net-zero strategies.
Reform UK took control of Essex County Council from the Conservatives in last month’s local elections, ending 25 years of Tory leadership in Kemi Badenoch’s home authority.
The Conservatives had previously introduced targets to reduce carbon emissions by 2030.
Conservative councillor Lee Scott urged the new leadership to remain “open-minded” on climate change and environmental policies.
The UK’s net-zero agenda has faced increasing criticism in recent years, coinciding with Reform UK’s rise in the polls.
Andrew Montford, director of Net Zero Watch, welcomed the council’s decision.
He said: “It’s encouraging to see Essex taking a different approach. Hopefully, this will be the first of many councils reversing what many see as green policy excesses.”
Speaking at the council’s first meeting on Thursday, Harris said: “The whole net-zero thing is nonsense. I call it ‘net stupid zero’ because I simply don’t agree with it.”
Deputy leader Russell Quirk backed the move, calling net zero a “ridiculous endeavour” that was “as pointless as it is foolish”.
He argued that the pursuit of net zero is extremely costly and ultimately unsustainable.
Quirk said that while other countries continue expanding industrial activity, the efforts of local councils would have only a minimal impact on global temperatures.
Instead, Reform says it wants to focus on tackling a local “pothole emergency” and addressing delays and rising costs linked to major infrastructure and road projects.
The new administration has also scrapped library reservation charges that were introduced earlier this year.
Responding to the plans, Scott said: “There needs to be changes to net zero and how it’s implemented.
“It has to be practical, but we also need to recognise that some measures can save residents money.”
Speaking to the BBC during a break in the meeting, Harris added: “We’re not going to follow what has become a net-zero crusade.
“Climate change has been happening for millions of years. Whether it’s man-made or part of a natural cycle, I’m not a scientist so I can’t say. What I do know is that I represent 1.6 million people and I’m not going to support policies that make them poorer.”
