Barnet Council has solidified its commitment to tackling climate change, setting a target to become a net-zero borough by 2042. The decision was reached at a Council meeting on Tuesday, 8 July 2025, where councillors discussed and approved a motion introduced by Councillor Mittra.
The motion underscores the current Labour administration's dedication to environmental sustainability. It also highlighted a previous assessment from September 2021, when Barnet Council was under Conservative leadership, which indicated the council lacked a comprehensive plan to address climate change, unlike around 80 per cent of local government areas assessed nationally and all but five London Boroughs.
The approved motion commits the council to:
- Transforming Barnet into a Net Zero borough by 2042.
- Collaborating with the Labour Government and the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, on climate change initiatives.
- Adopting best practices from other local authorities recognised for their effective Net Zero plans.
The council will look at best practice from other local authorities rated highly by Climate Change emergency in shaping our Net Zero plans.
The motion noted that the current Labour administration of the council has set a target of 2042 for Barnet to become a net zero borough and that the Conservatives nationally have pulled back from the Net Zero agenda. The motion also noted that in September 2021, when Barnet Council was led by a Conservative administration, Climate Emergency UK assessed the Council as having no plan to tackle climate change, unlike around 80 per cent of local government areas assessed nationally and all but five London Boroughs. The council will also work with this Labour Government and the Labour London mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, who continue to rise to the climate change challenge despite the Conservative Party's abandonment of the agenda
.
The motion was carried with 34 votes in favour and 18 against.
