{"id":85242,"date":"2026-03-20T00:01:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T00:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lse.ac.uk\/granthaminstitute\/?post_type=publication&p=85242"},"modified":"2026-03-23T14:34:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T14:34:28","slug":"the-reform-uk-partys-approach-to-climate-change-and-net-zero-in-local-councils","status":"publish","type":"publication","link":"https:\/\/www.lse.ac.uk\/granthaminstitute\/publication\/the-reform-uk-partys-approach-to-climate-change-and-net-zero-in-local-councils\/","title":{"rendered":"The Reform UK party\u2019s approach to climate change and net zero in local councils"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summary points<\/h2>\n\n\n\n