Reform UK-led Kent County Council has voted to rescind its climate emergency declaration despite criticisms it is ‘ignoring scientific evidence’.
The motion, put forward by Reform UK councillors Chris Hespe and Paul Chamberlain, questions the scientific consensus that human-induced climate change is a threat and says the council has had ‘no discernible affect on the world’s climate.’
A total of 50 Members backed the proposal, while 21 voted against it. Three councillors chose to abstain.
The decision effectively reverses the council’s previous stance on recognising climate change as an emergency, a position that had shaped policies and strategies since its introduction.
Earlier this week, Polly Billington, MP for East Thanet in Kent, wrote to council leader Linden Kemkaran criticising the motion and warning that Reform UK was ‘ignoring scientific evidence in favour of fringe online conspiracy theories’.
'In reality, at least 97% of climate scientists agree that man-made climate change is real,' she added.
To learn more about Reform UK, check out: Reform UK: What Britain’s fastest rising party stands for and Reform UK’s ‘Doge’ witch-hunts will achieve little.
