North Yorkshire Council criticised as vehicle emissions rise

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 18:15 · Archive

North Yorkshire Council's operational emissions fell just three per cent in 2025/26, while vehicle fleet emissions increased.

North Yorkshire Council is facing criticism over slow progress towards net zero targets after figures showed operational emissions fell by only three per cent in 2025/26, while emissions from its vehicle fleet actually rose. The council produced 29,789 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent during the year, compared with 30,751 tonnes in 2024/25. Since 2022/23, emissions have fallen by only around 3.5 per cent.

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. Liberal Democrat councillor Steve Mason accused the Conservative-run administration of 'greenwashing', saying the council declared a climate emergency in 2022 but progress has been 'glacial at best'. He said the council must 'embrace and lead the journey to a thriving future by taking this seriously'.

The report found that although emissions associated with electricity consumption fell by 23 per cent, around 60 per cent of that reduction resulted from the national electricity grid becoming cleaner rather than from action taken directly by the authority. Direct emissions from council buildings and vehicles increased by 1.6 per cent, largely because of higher emissions from its vehicle fleet.

How it is being reported

• North Yorkshire Council faces net zero criticism as emissions from vehicle fleet 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.Darlington & Stockton Times · 22 Oct, 17:30
• North Yorkshire Council faces net zero criticism as emissions from vehicle fleet 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 Northern Echo · 22 Oct, 17:30

In this story: North Yorkshire Council · Steve Mason · North Yorkshire

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