Dozens of backbenchers are expected to vote in favour of the Climate & Nature Bill on Friday, ending the ‘toxic cocktail of dither and delay’.
The Climate & Nature Bill will go to a House of Commons vote on Friday 24th January. Sponsored by Liberal Democrat MP Dr Roz Savage, the draft policy was published online today and has been branded a ‘world-leading’ proposal.
However, the Labour government has so far failed to back the bill, with party Whip Jeff Smith MP confirming earlier this month that Downing Street ‘does no support all the proposals’ and as such ‘will not be supporting’ when it comes to the vote.
Currently, 195 MPs have confirmed they will vote for the reforms, which will strengthen emissions reduction targets, embolden efforts to safeguard nature, and give the public more input into decisions about net zero and biodiversity restoration. This includes 90 Labour members.
Earlier this week it emerged the Government had ordered four ministers to u-turn on theor support and cut ties with environmental campaign group Zero Hour. Chief Secretary of the Treasury, Darren Jones and Energy Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh were among those instructed to vote ‘no’ to the proposals.
However, dozens of backbench MPs are now expected to break rank and defy the party ahead of this weekend by voting in support of a bill. This would reflect what Savage has described as ‘clear public support for boosting and integrating action to tackle the dual threats of climate change and nature’s destruction’, adding: ‘it is time ministers stepped up and backed our call for urgent action.’
‘We face a crisis of inaction on the climate and ecological emergency, with a toxic cocktail of dither and delay across the globe,’ said Dr Amy McDonnell, co-director of environmental campaign group Zero Hour. ‘The Climate and Nature Bill presents a golden opportunity to say ‘no’ to the climate deniers and conspiracy theorists.
‘Labour surely doesn’t want to align itself with those set to be on the wrong side of history,’ she added. ‘With hundreds of MPs supporting the Bill, Parliament is clearly ready to act. We now need the Government to back the CAN Bill so we can take the decisive action we need in the crucial years to 2030.’
You can read the full Climate & Nature bill here.
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