Darlington council climate change and nature plans ‘important’

The local authority’s ambition to introduce energy-saving measures across the borough and become carbon neutral by 2040 has been emphatically reiterated by those in charge at Darlington Town Hall. 

Last October, the council’s net zero ambition was criticised for allegedly virtue signalling and wasting money, while Conservative councillors have also urged council leaders to focus on other priority areas. 

Yet despite the criticism, cabinet members were told the local authority is on track to achieve its 2040 target after slashing its spending and introducing other green initiatives in recent years. 

Chris McEwan, cabinet member for economy, said: “Climate change and the Nature Emergency remain important priorities, not pursued for their own sake, but because they also deliver efficiency and financial savings. 

“Cumulatively, nearly £5 million has been saved over the past five years, demonstrating a clear economic benefit, and this has in part allowed us to deal with some of the historic cuts to our funding from previous governments. 

“To those that say: ‘why are we focusing on this?’ Why shouldn’t it be a priority to reduce costs of us doing business so we can invest in the many other council priorities?”

Despite recent progress, councillors were told that carbon emissions increased in the past year, partly due to the opening of the new Hopetown railway museum and ongoing works at the Dolphin Centre. 

In July 2025, the council passed a motion declaring a nature recovery emergency, alongside the existing climate emergency. 

Councillor Matthew Snedker, leader of the Green Party, said the council’s plan would make the borough a more attractive place to live and do business. “The nature recovery will also bolster our ability to do this,” he added. 

A council plea to prioritise protecting and restoring green spaces and wildlife was approved in May 2025 despite being labelled “woke” by political rivals. 

The council agreed to declare a Nature Restoration Emergency, meaning the area’s depleted wildlife will receive extra protection through council considerations, proposals and decisions.