North Yorkshire Council criticised over slow net zero progress
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 17:02 · Archive
North Yorkshire Council faces criticism as its vehicle emissions rise despite pledging to cut carbon.
North Yorkshire Council is facing criticism over slow progress towards net zero after new figures revealed a rise in emissions from its vehicle fleet. The council's operational emissions fell by just three per cent in 2025/26, while emissions from its vehicle fleet actually increased. Overall, the authority produced 29,789 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent during the year, compared with 30,751 tonnes in 2024/25.
Members of the council's transport, economy, environment and enterprise scrutiny committee have called for a detailed review of the authority's climate change programme. The figures show that emissions have fallen by only around 3.5 per cent since 2022/23, raising concerns that carbon emissions are not falling quickly enough.
Liberal Democrat councillor Steve Mason accused the Conservative-run administration of 'greenwashing'. He said the Tories declared a climate emergency in 2022, yet 'nearly five years on, and despite the hard work of dedicated officers, the ruling executive's commitment now amounts to nothing more than greenwashing as progress has been glacial at best'. He warned that health, household finances and the local area will all be impacted, saying the council must now either embrace the journey to a thriving future by taking climate action seriously or not.
How it is being reported
- Concerns over net zero progress as vehicle emissions riseNorth Yorkshire Council is facing criticism over its slow progress towards net zero after new figures revealed a rise in emissions from its vehicle fleet.Gazette & Herald (Malton) · 22 Oct, 16:00
- Concerns over net zero progress as vehicle emissions riseNorth Yorkshire Council is facing criticism over its slow progress towards net zero after new figures revealed a rise in emissions from its vehicle fleet.The Press (York) · 22 Oct, 16:00
In this story: North Yorkshire Council · Steve Mason · North Yorkshire
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