Commission statement on Wakefield Council climate change decision

Following Wakefield Council’s decision to end some of its climate-related activity, including withdrawing from Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission’s Climate Action Pledge, the Commission has issued the following statement. 

Director Rosa Foster said: 

“People in Wakefield, like all of us in Yorkshire and around the UK, are feeling the effects of our changing climate in real time with back-to-back heatwaves that are impacting people’s health, our schools and workplaces. 

“We agree that practical, locally led solutions are needed to help people and businesses adapt and thrive.  We also believe that place-based leadership is going to be critical to successfully reducing, preparing and adapting to the impacts of climate change. 

“We work closely with local leaders around the region and have always had a productive relationship with Wakefield Council. We would welcome the opportunity to meet with the new administration to discuss how we can continue to support them in their ambitions to make Wakefield more resilient, prosperous, and a great place to live now and in the future.” 

The vote, by Wakefield Council’s cabinet members, was taken at a meeting on 21 July 2026. Members voted to “unpublish” its climate change action plan and scrap the role of climate change elected member champion. Residents and businesses would be supported to become more energy efficient, and more than 600 green spaces in the district would be maintained.