Climate and Nature Bill

Thank you to everyone who has contacted me about the Climate and Nature (CAN) Bill.

The climate and nature crisis is growing ever more urgent. Yet, as the Climate Change Committee’s most recent progress report made clear, we are off track when it comes to taking action. I therefore agree that we need to act rapidly to meet our legally binding climate targets. We need to get back on track without delay here at home, so we can lead on international climate action overseas.

I welcome the immediate steps the new Government has already taken towards getting us back on track. For example, it has removed the de facto ban on new onshore wind in England, given approval for enough solar energy to power hundreds of thousands of homes and secured a record-breaking 131 new renewable electricity projects across Britain. It has also introduced legislation to establish Great British Energy, a new publicly owned company that will own, manage and operate clean power projects throughout the country. I am proud to support the Government’s green prosperity plan and its mission to deliver clean power by 2030.

On nature, I support plans to take action to meet Environment Act targets for nature recovery. I believe we should work with civil society, communities and business to restore and protect the natural world. I also support plans to improve responsible access to nature, including planting millions of trees and creating new woodlands. I welcome the Government’s commitment to expanding nature-rich habitats such as wetlands, peat bogs and forests so families can explore and wildlife can thrive.

Regarding the Climate and Nature Bill, I recognise the importance of integrating climate and nature objectives, but I do not believe the Climate and Nature Bill is a necessary piece of legislation to achieve this. The UK already has legally binding targets for climate under the Climate Change Act, and for nature under the Environment Act. Our focus is delivering on these, rather than more legislation to reach the same end.

Thank you once again to everyone who has contacted me. I believe the measures taken by this Government will help deliver on many of the aims of the CAN Bill and can assure you that I will continue to support effective leadership on the climate and nature crisis.

Please see below a list of what this Government has achieved so far on climate and nature in this Parliament.

Climate Achievements

• Lifted the 9-year onshore wind ban within 72 hours of coming to office.
• Consented nearly 2GW of solar across the country.
• Started a solar rooftop revolution.
• Delivered the most successful renewables auction in history.
• Set a world-leading target to reduce emissions by 81% by 2035.
• Reaffirmed our commitment not to issue new oil and gas licenses.
• Phased out coal as a power source.
• Confirmed we will ban fracking.
• Established Great British Energy (GBE), and appointed Juergen Maier as chair.
• Announced the GBE headquarters in Aberdeen.
• Set up the National Wealth Fund, unlocking investment in clean energy and supply chains.
• Published our world-leading plan to reach clean power by 2030.
• Launched first-of-a-kind carbon capture and hydrogen industries in Teesside and the north west.
• Took the first steps in establishing a Global Clean Power Alliance.
• Appointed world-renowned climate and nature envoys Rachel Kyte and Ruth Davis.
• Showed global leadership in negotiations at COP29.
• Committed to lifting 1 million renters out of fuel poverty through upgrading energy efficiency standards.
• Scrapped the 1m rule for heat pumps which has held back installations.
• Strengthened the energy regulator to ensure it properly stands up for consumers.

Nature Achievements

• Delivering the Water Bill to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas including new powers to ban the payment of bonuses for polluting water bosses and bring criminal charges against lawbreakers.
• Ringfencing funding for vital water infrastructure so that it can only be spent on upgrades benefiting the environment not diverted for bonuses, dividends or salary increases.
• Supporting nature friendly farming by introducing a New Deal for farmers with £5 billion in funding over two years largest investment in sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in this country’s history.
• Set out plans for a complete ban on bee killing pesticides delivering on election commitment to safeguarding bees, butterflies and the wider environment
• Increased access to nature for families to enjoy, with the creation of nine new National Rivers Walks and planting three National Forests.
• Put nature at the heart of Labour’s housing agenda with access to parks and green spaces on people’s doorsteps and environmental standards protected
• Setting up a Nature Restoration Fund enabling house builders and infrastructure providers to meet their environmental obligations faster and at greater scale delivering betters outcomes for nature.
• Boosted Britain’s international leadership on nature, with a commitment to appoint a special envoy for nature for the first time in history
• Introduced tough new measures to protect marine life and wildlife by ratifying the Global Oceans Treaty
• Investing up to £400 million in tree planting and peatland restoration over 2024/25 and 2025/26.
• Making recycling easier and banning single use vapes, which will reduce waste to landfill and clean up communities. enabling house builders and infrastructure providers to meet their environmental obligations faster and at greater scale delivering betters outcomes for nature.
• Set up a new Tree Planting Taskforce to oversee the planting of millions of trees across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure the long-term survival of woodland.

Best wishes,

Vicky