Some people may therefore have been surprised that last week, as Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Food, Waste and Rural Affairs, I proposed ending the council's Climate Emergency declaration.
At first glance, those positions may seem contradictory.
They are not.
If you genuinely care about the environment, you should care more about results than rhetoric. For too long, environmental politics has become dominated by slogans rather than solutions. Climate Emergency. Net Zero. These phrases may make for good headlines, but they don't, on their own, reduce emissions, prevent flooding or make a single Suffolk home warmer.
Rescinding the declaration does not mean the council has stopped caring about the environment. It doesn't mean denying climate change or abandoning our responsibilities. It means recognising that, seven years on, the council should be judged by what it achieves, not by the labels it adopts.
Our climate is changing. We are seeing hotter summers, more frequent extreme weather and heavier rainfall that affects homes, businesses, farmland and infrastructure across Suffolk. We have to accept that reality. That means putting just as much emphasis on adapting to a changing climate and building resilience as we do on reducing emissions. Stronger flood defences, more resilient infrastructure and better prepared communities will do far more to protect Suffolk than repeating political slogans.
Despite seven years under a Climate Emergency declaration, flood resilience in Suffolk did not improve as much as residents would reasonably have expected. A declaration alone doesn't stop homes flooding. Practical investment and effective delivery do. The irony is that those shouting loudest about climate slogans often overlook the practical work that actually protects the environment. Looking after our rivers, reducing flood risk, supporting local food production and protecting our countryside isn't somehow less "green" because it isn't wrapped up in ideological language. In many ways, it's the most environmental thing we can do.
One issue that deserves far more attention is water scarcity. East Anglia is one of the driest and most water-stressed parts of the country. Our farmers face heavier winter rainfall but increasing water shortages during the growing season. If we are serious about protecting our environment and strengthening our rural economy, we must become far better at storing and managing water rather than simply letting it flow out to sea.
That's why I'd like to see even greater support for our schemes such as Reclaim the Rain and Felixstowe Hydrocycle, which are helping capture, recycle and reuse water for agriculture. These are exactly the sort of practical environmental projects we should champion. Ironically, their success has little to do with ticking a Net Zero target and everything to do with making Suffolk more resilient.
That is the test we should apply to every project. Does it improve the environment? Does it help Suffolk residents? Is it good value for money? Does it make our communities more resilient?
If the answer is yes, it deserves our support.
I've already seen the dedication of council officers delivering exactly that kind of work. Warm Homes Suffolk helps residents reduce energy bills. Switch Together Suffolk helps households access solar panels and heat pumps. Our award-winning Floods Team works tirelessly to reduce flood risk and support communities affected by severe weather.
These initiatives don't need an emergency declaration to justify them. They succeed because they work.
That's why the motion also commits the council to reviewing its climate, net zero and environmental programmes - not to wield an axe, but to ensure resources are directed towards schemes that deliver measurable environmental benefits rather than simply ticking ideological boxes.
Real environmentalism isn't measured by how many declarations you pass. It's measured by cleaner rivers, stronger flood defences, healthier countryside, more secure water supplies, lower household energy bills and communities that are better prepared for the future.
Our duty has not changed. We will continue helping Suffolk respond to flooding, extreme weather, water scarcity and the wider impacts of climate change. What has changed is that we are choosing substance over symbolism. That's not abandoning environmental responsibility. It's taking it seriously.
