Rush to net zero is costing us so much money

THE leader of Reform UK on Lincolnshire County Council has dismissed the idea of a climate emergency, suggesting the path to net zero would be better taken over 100 years.

- BY JAMES TURNER Local Democracy Reporter

Councillor Matthews was elected leader of the Reform group, with former South Holland Independents councillor Rob Gibson as his deputy, after Gibson defected to Reform in March. The two are expected to be voted in as leader and deputy leader of the council at the full council meeting on Friday, May 23.

In 2019, several councils across Lincolnshire — including South Kesteven, East Lindsey, and North East Lincolnshire - declared a climate emergency, reflecting the need to accelerate carbon emission reductions. However, the soon-to-be leader of Lincolnshire County Council believes this is “absolutely not” the case.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “My view is, I would love for us all to live in a much cleaner environment, and that is my ultimate goal. I want us to live with cleaner air - the plastic in the seas is dreadful. But the influence of man on the climate is so minimal, and the rush to net zero is costing us so much money - it will make absolutely no difference.”