Nottinghamshire has seen its fair share of wild weather lately. In just ten years, the region has faced major floods and droughts. Remember November 2019? That’s when a month’s worth of rain fell in just one day, leading to a significant emergency. Fast forward to August 2022, and we experienced a severe drought with record-breaking heat. Recently, Storm Babet caused more flooding in October 2023, followed by more issues due to Storm Hen in January 2024.
In response to these challenges, Nottinghamshire County Council declared a climate emergency in May 2021. They aimed to make all council activities carbon neutral by 2030, under the Conservative leadership at that time. By 2024, they had crafted a detailed plan called the Net Zero Framework to tackle climate change and create a “healthy, prosperous, green, and resilient Nottinghamshire.”
However, in a surprising turn of events, Reform UK took control of the council in May 2025, flipping the political landscape. They hold 41 of the 66 seats, shifting the focus away from climate initiatives.
The new councillor in charge of environmental policies, Bert Bingham, has called climate change a “hoax.” He feels that concerns about man-made global warming are based on manipulated statistics. His view starkly contrasts with the overwhelming consensus among scientists, who warn that human activities are increasing global temperatures. Recent data shows that 2024 was the hottest year on record, with temperatures surpassing a 1.5°C increase.
While some councils have rolled back climate emergency declarations, Nottinghamshire hasn’t done so yet. This may be because reversing such declarations requires complex legal processes and risks losing government grants tied to climate initiatives. Instead, these new leaders appear to be shifting financial resources away from green projects without formally rescinding policies.
Under the current administration, there’s a growing emphasis on financial savings over environmental goals. Plans for new bike lanes and walkways, initially set out in the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, now face scrutiny from Bingham, who may quietly stall these initiatives.
Bingham argues that traditional infrastructure, like road maintenance, deserves priority. His recent reallocations included £3.3 million intended for green projects being diverted instead.
This lack of commitment to climate policies could be dangerous. The consequences of climate change are starkly visible in Nottinghamshire and beyond. As Labour county councillor Helen Faccio pointed out, ignoring scientific consensus is not just misguided; it’s also shortsighted.
With every election, voters have a chance to shape policies. Acknowledging and understanding climate change is vital for the future. Documentation by the IPCC shows the urgency of our situation, reinforcing the importance of informed voting and civic awareness.
