“We remain steadfast in our belief that bold, science-led, and integrated legislation for climate, nature, and people is not just the best but the only viable path to addressing… the intertwined climate and nature crisis” – Felix Sanctuary
Friday 24 January saw the Climate and Nature (CAN) Bill debated in Parliament. While the Bill did not progress, Felix Sanctuary, a campaigner for the legislation that would see more stringent climate targets reflects on what happens next.
The Friday before last may have seemed like a confusing culmination of all the hard work that has gone into the Climate and Nature Bill over the last years—but the truth is, Parliament often feels this way. With its strange customs and traditions, complex procedures, and wide-ranging opinions, it can sometimes be difficult to decipher. So, the most obvious question is: was it a success?
Well, the answer is not that simple, and it would be hard to put the success of 24 February in such black and white terms. For us—and, we hope, for you—the speeches from many CAN Bill supporters, and especially sponsors, were inspiring. They powerfully conveyed the significance of the CAN Bill and the urgent need for action on both climate and nature. The importance of this debate cannot be overstated. Having the UK Parliament and Government acknowledge and discuss the intertwined crises is a critical step forward—though far from the final one.
However, we cannot ignore the deep disappointment that the Government failed to grant a free vote on Friday. A free vote would have allowed MPs to have their say and vote with their own conscience on whether the debate on climate and nature should continue to Committee Stage—where the CAN Bill would have been scrutinised line by line.
Although the debate was adjourned until 11 July—placing the CAN Bill too far down the parliamentary agenda to be heard—we now have a strong foundation to build on. This adjournment is just one of the mechanisms we can use to hold the Government to account. To push the CAN Bill back up the agenda and ensure its progress on 11 July, we’ll need the support of all our campaigners in driving forward the necessary action on climate change and biodiversity loss.
Since 2019, we have been a Private Members’ Bill campaign advocating not for what is politically convenient, but for what is scientifically necessary—to cut emissions, restore the natural environment, and safeguard a liveable planet. As Clive Lewis so aptly put it during the CAN Bill’s second reading, “we cannot have growth on a dead planet”. This moment demands urgency and bold action from our elected representatives, and we will continue to hold them to account on this.
The key outcome of the debate was the Government’s assurance that negotiations will continue. At the end, the Minister for Nature, Mary Creagh, assured MPs that—despite adjourning the debate on the Bill—the next steps would include “binding commitments” to advance the CAN Bill’s objectives. In addition to this, DESNZ Secretary of State Ed Miliband stated in a video message that he—and The Government—have committed to “set to work” on the CAN Bill’s objectives, “including for legislation”, to “make a meaningful difference for climate and nature”—and promised a seat at the table for the “people behind the bill”.
In summary, these commitments set out by the Government answer the question, “What’s next?” for Zero Hour and the Climate and Nature Bill campaign. While we must reflect, plan, and coordinate our next steps, one thing is clearer than ever—this fight is far from over. We remain steadfast in our belief that bold, science-led, and integrated legislation for climate, nature, and people is not just the best but the only viable path to addressing the greatest long-term challenge of our time: the intertwined climate and nature crisis.
