Plans to slash sustainability budgets by £200,000 have ignited debate over Gloucestershire County Council’s dedication to combating climate change. The council, which has a carbon footprint equivalent to 400 tonnes of CO2 annually, has pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2030 — a target that requires balancing greenhouse gases released with those removed from the atmosphere.
Green Party councillors have voiced concerns about how these budget cuts align with the ambitious climate goals, especially with 2030 now only four years away. During the recent debate on the council’s 2026/27 budget proposals, Councillor Chloe Turner (Minchinhampton) acknowledged the council’s financial pressures but challenged the characterization of the Liberal Democrat’s budget as “green.”
Turner highlighted that the nature, climate, and waste reduction portfolio has been underfunded. “The portfolio hasn’t received the financial support it truly needs,” she said, pointing out that a £445,000 allocation over four years is meant to cover the entire climate adaptation efforts of the council. She emphasized that the £200,000 sustainability budget cut labeled as “supporting the climate action plan” is, in reality, a reduction in funding. “We are only four years from 2030 — what do these cuts mean for the climate and nature teams? More importantly, how does this reconcile with the council’s stated commitment to addressing the climate and ecological emergencies?”
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In response, Councillor Martin Horwood (Liberal Democrat, Leckhampton and Warden Hill) clarified that while one budget line is decreasing, overall environmental spending is rising. He noted increased investment in ecology and key initiatives such as sustainable urban drainage systems and tree and hedgerow maintenance. “There is a direct increase in spending overall,” Horwood stated.
Horwood stressed that climate responsibility extends across the entire council. For instance, a £15 million investment in roads is expected to support public transport and cycling infrastructure, indirectly contributing to emission reductions. He also highlighted progress in lowering emissions from council buildings by switching to renewable energy sources.
Yet, Horwood pointed out that 90% of the council’s carbon footprint comes from its suppliers and contractors. To address this significant impact, the council has established a working group tasked with monitoring supplier emissions and encouraging reductions within the supply chain. “If we ignored this area, we’d be neglecting the vast majority of our environmental impact,” he affirmed.
As Gloucestershire County Council strives to meet its 2030 net zero target, the tension between financial constraints and environmental commitments underscores the challenge of balancing immediate budget realities with long-term climate goals.