'Woke' council approves 'virtue-signalling' plan to tackle so-called nature emergency

Critics have dismissed a town hall's "woke" plan to tackle the nature emergency as "virtue-signalling". Despite opposition from councillors, Darlington Borough Council gave a green light to the declaration of a Restoration Emergency.

The move lays out the local authority's plan to boost nature by 2040 and was passed amid a heated debate, according to . Tory members branded the idea from the Labour-Lib Dem coalition-led council as "woke" virtue-signalling. But and councillors stood by the declaration, which means concerns over the environment will form part of the local authority's decision-making.

Green Party councillor Kate Mammolotti tabled the motion. She said: "I wrote this motion with hope and passion.

"The work ahead of us is considerable and there is no room for idling or complacency. This is a win for nature and for all the residents who cherish her."

Labour's Chris McEwan, in charge of the economy at the council, said Darlington BC should introduce nature-friendly measures on land owned by the local authority.

But Jonathan Dulston, who leads the council's Conservative grouping of councillors, said the "small" council should focus on tackling inequality rather than "pie-in-the-sky green and woke agendas".

Conservative councillor Scott Durham described the declaration as "just virtue-signalling" and argued that residents want "pragmatic, simple decisions that affect their neighbourhoods."

Cllr Lorraine Tostevin said while Conservative members supported protecting green spaces and wildlife, such policies are already in the council's existing climate change plan.

Wildlife charities, including the Woodland Trust, have long urged local authorities to declare a nature emergency and act to restore green spaces.

Councils which have declared a nature emergency include Aberdeen, Basingstoke and Dean, Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, Cambridge, Hull and Exeter, according to Natureemergency.com.

It said that everyone needs to play a part in helping nature and local councils "hold the power" to push for change.

News of the row in Darlington comes amid growing scepticism about some green policies, including those aimed at mitigating the impact of climate change.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said in March that it was impossible for the UK to meet its Net Zero target by 2050, a goal set by the previous Tory government. Reform UK's Deputy Leader Richard Tice describes Net Zero as "Net Stupid".

The Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit has said the release of planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions needs to fall to zero to limit heating and help keep global temperature rises below 2C.

Experts have long said that in the long run the cost of inaction will outweigh the amounts spent mitigating climate change.

Britain, France, Sweden, Norway and Denmark were amongst the first to enshrine their Net Zero targets in law.