The Reform UK party’s approach to climate change and net zero in local councils

In May 2025 Reform UK won majorities in 10 of 23 councils up for election in England. Among the party’s election promises were to “scrap net zero to cut your energy bills”. With the party likely to take control of more councils in May 2026, this brief examines how its pledge to “scrap net zero” has been implemented by Reform-led local authorities, and what might be expected from the party’s future administrations.

The study considered nine of the 10 councils with a Reform UK majority. The authors analysed party literature, council documents and websites, press and social media statements, focusing on relevant council debates about the removal of climate targets or climate commitments, particularly Climate Emergency Declarations, net zero and carbon neutrality targets, and efforts to mitigate climate change.

Summary points

• Reform UK does not currently have a clear, explicit position on climate change but there is evidence to indicate the party and its councils may be returning to the ‘denialist’ stance that rejects anthropogenic climate change.
• Seven Reform UK-led councils have “scrapped” their climate targets and climate change denial has been expressed by Reform UK councillors in five councils. Some of these councils have removed content about climate change from strategy documents.
• While work related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions continues in these councils, mitigating climate change is no longer explicitly cited as the motivation.
• However, there is variation in how “scrapping net zero” is being implemented, reflecting an apparent divergence of views within the party.
• There is also a lack of clarity in the party’s claims of how “scrapping net zero” has achieved financial savings and how the party defines expenditure on net zero.
• Reform UK is likely to win control of more local authorities in May 2026, including further unitary authorities with responsibilities for planning applications and housing, policy areas of importance to national climate targets.
• National government will face greater challenges in ensuring that local authorities contribute to the delivery of legislative and policy climate goals if Reform UK wins more seats.
• The Government should consider strategic options including incentives to promote progress, rather than assuming voluntary action, and making standardised emissions reporting mandatory, to track progress of programmes that reduce emissions.
• Reform UK should clarify its position on net zero expenditure to avoid misleading voters about its campaign pledges.