'British people have felt these price hikes most severely': Environment cabinet member blames net zero targets for higher energy bills

The Climate Change Committee, the government's statutory adviser for climate change, said in its progress report on the net zero target last year that the new Labour government would "have to act fast to hit the country's commitments".

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It noted that low-carbon technologies are becoming cheaper, although uptake remains low, and said there was an increasing need to focus on how the UK adapts to climate changes that have already happened.

Reform-controlled West Northamptonshire and Durham County Councils this week both ditched local net zero targets-common at local authorities across the country - which were set by a previous regime

However, Lancashire County Council had not set any such specific ambitions - nor declared a climate emergency - under the previous Conservative administration, which was in control for eight years until May's local elections.

Instead, the authority had pledged, in 2020, to "transition" the local economy away from its reliance on carbon by the end of the current decade.

That commitment was secured by Green Party group leader Gina Dowding, who remains in the same role today.