Durham County Council, under Reform leadership, has rescinded its climate emergency declaration made in 2019, becoming the first in the UK to do so. This motion was met with severe backlash, including claims of it being a dark day for the authority. Instead, the council declared a County Durham care emergency. Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Wilkes highlighted the financial and environmental benefits of the original climate declaration, noting over £13 million saved last year. The debate included accusations from Reform councillor Kenny Hope regarding labor practices in regard to lithium battery production and solar panels.
The motion to rescind the climate emergency declaration in Durham has been condemned as a very dark day for the authority. The council has shifted its focus to a County Durham care emergency instead.
Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Wilkes stated that the council's climate action had helped save over £13 million in the last year alone and warned that stopping climate initiatives would risk loss of external funding.
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