Last week, MPs from all major parties supported the reintroduction of the UK Climate & Ecology Bill in the House of Commons, as Olivia Blake MP made the case for urgent, science-led and joined-up action to tackle the climate crisis.
After the Bill was tabled, Labour’s environment frontbench team, including MPs, Ed Miliband and Jim McMahon, came out to support Olivia Blake as she re-introduced the Bill. Labour’s climate change lead, Ed Miliband MP, welcomed the ambition of the Bill pledging that a Labour Government would deliver a joined-up environmental plan “to lower people’s bills, give us energy security, and create jobs” in light of the Government’s failure to act with urgency to tackle the climate and biodiversity emergency.
“We face a climate and biodiversity crisis,” Miliband, Labour’s shadow secretary of state for climate change and net zero, said: “What’s important about the legislation Olivia Blake is putting forward—the Climate & Ecology Bill—is that it addresses both together. We know that the UK Government is not acting with nearly the urgency that’s required on both. If there’s a Labour Government, we will make sure that we do so. What we need now is maximum ambition. We know this is the right thing to do, because it will lower people’s bills, it will give us energy security, it will create jobs—and it will tackle the climate and nature emergency that we face.”
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, who also backs the CE Bill, said: “I’m proud to support the Climate & Ecology Bill, which aligns with my ambitions to make London a net zero carbon city by 2030. The CE Bill would ensure that the UK reduces its greenhouse emissions to keep global average warming under 1.5°C—as well as protecting nature, halting—and eventually reversing—ecological damage. A green and just recovery is in everyone’s interests by tackling both the climate crisis, and the energy and cost of living crisis we’re currently facing. The Government must not delay action any further and must seize the opportunity for the sake of people and the planet, now.”
Cllr Georgia Gould, chair of London Councils and Camden Council Leader, said: “We are at a climate and ecological tipping point with urgent action long overdue. Around the country councils and communities are leading change. In Camden, we’ve cut emissions by 43 per cent—and our hard work continues with urgency—as we’re determined to protect our planet and our future generations. Bringing the Climate & Ecology Bill into law would provide a clear direction for citizens, businesses, and politicians at every level of government, to act in line with the latest science. Now is the time to bring this vital legislative plan into law.”
Dr Amy McDonnell, Zero Hour co-director, said: “This is a really important next step in bringing the Labour Party on board with the Climate & Ecology Bill campaign. At Zero Hour, we’re looking forward to working more closely with the Shadow Energy and Environment Teams to explore the policies required to match ambition and action we need to get the UK back on track for 1.5°C, and to restore the natural world. We hope that Sir Keir Starmer will get behind the CE Bill ahead of the next Westminster election and cement Labour’s commitment to lock the latest science into law.”
Pictured: L-R: Alex Sobel MP (Shadow Minister for Nature), Olivia Blake MP (CE Bill sponsor), Daniel Zeichner MP (Shadow Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries), Ed Miliband MP (Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Net Zero), Baroness Blake (Shadow Minister for Energy and Net Zero), Jim McMahon (Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), Kerry McCarthy MP (Shadow Minister for Climate Change).
