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A race for nature
MPs join ex-Olympians in Thames boat race ahead of landmark climate vote.
15 January 2025
Labour MPs are set to join forces with opposition parties to force through a landmark climate bill in Commons vote on Friday.
The backbench Climate and Nature (CAN) Bill – supported by 195 MPs, including 90 Labour MPs – was published today (Wednesday 22 Jan) and faces a parliamentary vote this week.
The ‘world-leading’ proposals set out measures to strengthen Britain’s emission reduction targets, protect nature and ensure the public have their say on the government’s net zero and nature restoration plans.
Private members’ bills require at least 100 MPs to be present for a vote to be called, yet Labour MPs say ministers have been encouraging backbench MPs to talk out the bill with long speeches.
Labour backbenchers are being instructed to be in Westminster on Friday, though it is not yet clear if they will be ordered to vote against the Bill or abstain.
Earlier this week, government figures ordered four ministers to renege their support for the Bill and cut ties with Zero Hour environmental campaigners ahead of Friday’s vote.
They include Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and Energy Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh.
Campaigners say it is vital that the government actively comes out in support of the Bill, citing a ‘toxic cocktail of dither and delay’ over the global fight against climate change.
‘We face a crisis of inaction on the climate and ecological emergency, with a toxic cocktail of dither and delay across the globe.
‘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.
‘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.’DR AMY MCDONNELL
Co-director of environmental campaign group Zero Hour
While in opposition, the Labour Party claimed to support the ‘ambition and objectives’ of the Bill, but MPs say instructions from government whips to not support the Bill puts it in jeopardy.
Sponsored by Liberal Democrat MP Dr Roz Savage, the private member’s bill has garnered record levels of support across the Commons, with dozens of Labour MPs set to vote in favour of it on Friday.
Devastating wildfires in Los Angeles this month, combined with Donald Trump’s immediate withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement, are thought to be focusing MP’s minds to back the Bill in recent days.
‘The cross-party Climate and Nature Bill sets out the requirement for a science-led and nature-based strategy for Britain to mitigate climate change in a just and fair way.
‘There is clear public support for boosting and integrating action to tackle the dual threats of climate change and nature’s destruction, and it is time ministers stepped up and backed our call for urgent action.’DR ROZ SAVAGE MP
Climate and Nature Bill sponsor
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