Norfolk County Council climate change policy under fire

Norfolk County Council, which is spending £22.5m to cut carbon in its own buildings, says its refreshed climate policy, which renews its commitment to making its estate net zero by 2030, will not cost more money.

However, it has come under fire, because, when the policy was initially drafted in 2019, it committed the council to working towards carbon neutrality for the whole of Norfolk by 2030.

Norfolk County Council's County Hall headquarters (Image: Mike Page)

But councillors are asked to ditch that, with officers stating: "It is clear given the national and international trajectory that Norfolk cannot reach carbon neutrality by 2030 and nor can the UK as a whole or any other major economy."

Councillors, who will discuss the policy at a Monday (January 15) meeting, are asked to agree the council will support the county reaching net zero by 2050.

They will be asked to agree to "look to keep Norfolk in step with the ambitious trajectory set out in the national carbon budgets of a 78pc reduction in emissions by 2035 relative to 1990 levels, whilst recognising the vital role of Norfolk’s agricultural sector in UK food security and the implications for its land use emissions in the national context."

Eric Vardy, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for waste (Image: Supplied by the Conservatives)

READ MORE: Norfolk County Council's net zero efforts praised

Eric Vardy, the Conservative-controlled council's cabinet member for environment, said: "We’ve made great strides in reducing the council's own emissions and are on track to meet our 2030 net zero target, but our climate policy is also about supporting the wider county to become carbon neutral.

"This updated policy acknowledges the challenges we face, as well as the opportunities we have in working towards the national target to reach net zero by 2050."

Liberal Democrat Steffan Aquarone (Image: Supplied)

But Steffan Aquarone, opposition Liberal Democrat group climate change spokesman, said it was a "significant step down".

He said: "This is yet another example of Norfolk County Council kicking its leadership role into the long grass and is exemplified by net zero goals being pushed back to 2050."

READ MORE: New Norfolk country park to hit tree targets criticised

Labour county councillor Terry Jermy (Image: Archant)

Labour spokesman Terry Jermy said: "If we’re to have any success at all when it comes to reducing or mitigating the effects of climate change then councils like Norfolk need to try much, much harder."