This article was republished 8 March 2026 for International Women’s Day to highlight the incredible women of Bylines Network
The impact of climate change can be felt in all cities around the globe in the form of pollution, rising sea levels, and extreme weather patterns that threaten infrastructure, air and water quality and public health. Lincolnshire is one county feeling the strain, and now, after a dramatic local election result put Reform UK in control, environmental policy in the region may shift.
Reform UK: a political shift in Lincolnshire
Following the local elections on 1 May, Reform UK has taken control of Lincolnshire County Council, securing 44 of the 70 available seats. This local election win ended over five decades of Conservative control and saw Dame Andrea Jenkyns, former Conservative MP now Reform UK party member, elected as the county’s first mayor.
It seems voters resonated with Jenkyns and Reform UK’s campaign, which focused on immigration, local policing, and council tax reform. However, their stance on climate and environmental policy may potentially have long-term consequences.
A climate of concern
Lincolnshire is one of the UK’s most at-risk regions for climate impacts. According to the Gross Domestic Climate Risk dataset by XDI Systems, Lincolnshire ranks among the higher-risk areas in England for climate-induced damage to infrastructure by 2050. Much of the county lies at or below sea level, making it especially vulnerable when it comes to flooding.
Prior to the local election, environmental group Friends of the Earth published its ‘Climate Action Plan for the Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire’, which urged the new mayor to take immediate steps to tackle the region’s escalating climate crisis. The plan outlines key priorities, including investing in public transport, protecting flood-prone communities, and accelerating the transition to renewable energy. The report calls on the new mayor to deliver warm, energy-efficient homes and support green jobs, while also warning that failing to act on the climate crisis not only threatens Lincolnshire’s environment but also puts future economic and social opportunities at risk.
Despite these proven risks, Reform UK has remained steadfast in their scepticism and dismissive outlook on climate change. They have regularly made headlines for their net-zero rollback aspirations. As reported by DeSmog, Jenkyns has vowed to cut climate spending and redirect funds towards “more immediate local concerns,” which has alarmed environmentalists and climate scientists.
The future of environmental policy in Lincolnshire
As Reform UK takes the reins, many will be watching to see how Mayor Jenkyns translates her campaign rhetoric into policy. While she has emphasised ‘common sense environmentalism,’ this approach has been criticised, arguing that it may come at the cost of a much-needed long-term investment in clean energy and flood mitigation.
Green initiatives are at risk of being dismantled or defunded with Reform UK now in power in Lincolnshire. Recent news from The Guardian suggests that Reform UK plans to obstruct green energy projects in Lincolnshire, which puts £1bn in local investment and over 12,000 jobs at risk.
Speaking to The Guardian, Melanie Onn, the Labour MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, said: “Reform’s war on the green economy is actually a war on jobs and investment and flies in the face of what hard-working businesses and families need. Reform’s dangerous plan is a threat to British jobs and British workers.
“Now Reform have a platform in Greater Lincolnshire, they must come clean on whether they’re prepared to risk damaging the local economy and risk making thousands of workers unemployed.”
The coming months will be crucial in determining whether Jenkyns’ leadership will affect the future of Lincolnshire’s green initiatives, especially at a time when they are needed the most.
