South Devon MP Caroline Voaden has expressed her deep disappointment after the Climate and Nature (CAN) Bill failed to pass its second reading in the House last week.
The Bill, which was introduced by fellow Liberal Democrat MP, Roz Savage, was the only proposed legislation in the UK that tackles the climate and nature emergencies as one.
Among its proposals included legally binding targets to reverse biodiversity loss and the creation of citizen assemblies to produce climate-and-nature-friendly recommendations for MPs to consider.
Over 190 MPs from varying parties had signalled their support for the Bill prior to Friday’s debate. However last week, it was reported that the Government had ordered its MPs to vote down the Bill.
This came after weeks of negotiations between Savage’s team and the Government broke down following Labour’s insistence at removing sections of the Bill that would make it legally binding for ministers to meet the targets signed up for in international treaties.
Following the Government’s successful motion to end the debate, the CAN Bill has now been adjourned, with the next scheduled reading postponed until July – but effectively the Bill won’t get any more parliamentary time.
This result came in the same week that rumours continued to swirl that the Treasury is open to adding a third runway at Heathrow Airport despite massive longstanding environmental concerns.
It also came in the same week as the US drastically rolled back its climate ambitions, with President Trump pulling the country out of the Paris Climate Accords for the second time only a few hours after his inauguration.
Originally introduced in a different format by Caroline Lucas in 2020, the CAN Bill was written by scientists, experts, and campaigners, and has the backing of 216 MPs and Peers representing all major political parties.
Caroline Voaden, MP for South Devon, said:
“We’re in the last chance saloon as far as fighting the climate crisis goes. What I want to see from our Government is ambition and boldness, commitment, leadership – I’m not seeing any of that from Labour.
“They talk about growth, but seem to ignore the fact that the cost of not taking the bold action we need will be far, far higher than the cost of making the changes we urgently need. And as the effects of the climate crisis spread and deepen, economies will shrink and possibly even collapse – so there is an economic as well as a moral and human imperative to do this.
“To put politics above the need for this action is deeply disappointing. To do so in the same week that we’ve seen a climate denier reoccupy the White House and pull the US out of the Paris Climate Accords is unforgiveable. The world is crying out for climate leadership – it really is little wonder that 58% of the public view Labour and the Conservatives as equally unambitious on tackling climate change.
“Only in November the Prime Minister said he wanted to get ahead of the game in the race to protect our planet. Last week, sadly, his Government refused to do just that.”
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