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Councillors scrap 2050 carbon neutral target

Jamie WallerLocal Democracy Reporting Service
Getty Images An aerial view looking out across the castle square in Lincoln from the castle to Lincoln Cathedral. Several buildings are dotted around the castle square and Lincoln Cathedral with its two towers stand looking out at the city. The sky is blue and greenery and fields can be seen in the distance.Getty Images
The Reform UK administration in Lincolnshire has decided to scrap plans to become carbon neutral by 2050

A council has scrapped a goal to become carbon neutral by 2050 after its leader deemed it "completely unachievable".

It comes after financial concerns were raised over how the net zero target would be reached at a Lincolnshire County Council meeting on Tuesday, which was disrupted twice by environmental protestors.

Speaking after the meeting, Reform UK council leader Sean Matthews said: "We think it's better to make the planet a better place in slow time rather than rush to it."

However, Extinction Rebellion member Eddie Francis, who attended the meeting, said: "It's completely irresponsible to drop net zero by 2050."

The carbon neutral target was put in place by the previous Conservative-led administration in 2021, but the Reform UK council said it placed a financial burden on council tax payers.

The council signed off the change of scrapping the carbon neutral target at the end of Tuesday's meeting as part of a new Green Masterplan it has adopted, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

LDRS A woman with shoulder length grey hair and wearing an orange coat. She is wearing black sunglasses and holding up two signs. One says 'Reform lie about the costs of climate action. Inaction will cost far more' and the other says 'our children's futures in your hands. You're hand in glove with big oil billionaires."LDRS
Christine Brookman said she was worried for her children and grandchildren's future

Following the meeting, councillor Danny Brookes, executive member for the environment, said: "These are unachievable goals that the government has set for us, but hasn't given anybody any money to do it. They've expected the taxpayer to fund it all."

Matthews added: "Net zero goals are completely unachievable and unreasonable.

"My priority is looking after the people of Lincolnshire. That means money and a better environment for them to live in. It means no solar farms destroying our wonderful crops.

"That's the type of environment I'm trying to protect, not some gas that we make no difference to."

LDRS A man with short grey hair is holding up a sign that says 'Reform betray farmers by denying the reality of extreme weather impacts caused by fossil fuels'. Below the sign are pictures of several BBC articles.LDRS
Eddie Francis said extreme weather events were a "big concern" for Lincolnshire

However, Francis said: "You only have to look at the news to know extreme weather events are a big concern for Lincolnshire."

Christine Brookman, also from Extinction Rebellion, added: "I'm worried about my children and grandchildren's future.

"Reform seems to be ignoring the fact that there's a climate emergency."

Previously, Independent councillor Ashley Baxter said the plan was a backward step but the head of environment at the authority, Chris Miller, said the council would still work to reduce its carbon emissions.

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