77 MP’s back Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill

Greens, Alliance, SDLP, Plaid Cymru and Lib Dems announce official support for the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (CEE Bill). 

The CEE Bill, which was officially published in the Commons last week (November 2), offers the UK Government a viable framework for climate action.

Drafted by a group of scientists, academics, lawyers and environmentalists, the Bill aims to ensure that the UK plays a proper role in limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees Celcius.

The Bill outlines a proposal for a temporary emergency Citizens’ Assembly who could help to assist the government in determining which policies should be included in the emergency strategy.

Caroline Lucas, the Bill’s primary sponsor in the Commons, said: ‘As hosts of the UN climate conference next year, the UK Government has a critical opportunity to show the climate leadership it boasts of, and to deliver a serious plan to tackle both the climate and nature emergencies.

‘The CEE Bill is the roadmap to do this. I’m delighted it has growing cross-party support and I urge all MPs who recognise the urgency of the climate crisis, and the need to make those far-reaching and unprecedented changes in our society, to get behind this initiative so this vital Bill becomes law.’

Ed Davey, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, added: ‘Covid-19 has shown how quickly the world can change and the terrible price for not taking actions quickly and seriously can have. The failure to cut emissions means we are now facing a climate emergency.

‘The Conservatives clearly lack the appetite to act when it comes to tackling the climate emergency.  The Tories need to wake up to reality and back this Bill to show real global leadership ahead of the critical COP26 talks this time next year.’

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