The truth about the climate & nature bill
Groundbreaking Climate and Nature Bill Introduced in UK Parliament
This is what they want us to believe:
A landmark piece of legislation, the Climate and Nature Bill, has been introduced to Parliament, presenting an ambitious framework to address both the climate crisis and biodiversity loss in a coordinated approach. The bill, presented by Alex Sobel MP with cross-party support, sets forth comprehensive measures to ensure the United Kingdom meets crucial climate and nature targets while establishing new mechanisms for public involvement and oversight.
Key Climate Objectives
At the heart of the bill lies a fundamental duty for the Secretary of State to ensure the UK reduces its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero. This reduction must align with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The legislation emphasises the UK’s obligations under both the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, while acknowledging the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” among nations.
Nature Recovery Targets
The bill breaks new ground by requiring the UK to halt and reverse its contribution to nature degradation both domestically and overseas. A key target mandates that by 2030, measured against a 2020 baseline, nature must be demonstrably on the path to recovery. This includes improving the health, abundance, diversity, and resilience of species, populations, habitats, and ecosystems. The legislation aligns with international commitments under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Strategy Development and Implementation
Within 12 months of the Act’s passing, the Secretary of State must publish and present to Parliament a comprehensive strategy to achieve these objectives. This strategy must include:
– Annual interim targets
– Measures to limit the UK’s total carbon dioxide emissions to its fair share of the remaining global carbon budget
– Comparable reductions in emissions from imported goods and services
– The rapid phase-out of fossil fuel exploration, extraction, export, and import
– Ecosystem restoration and enhancement both in the UK and overseas
– Implementation of the Mitigation and Conservation Hierarchy in all activities affecting nature
– Steps to address adverse impacts of UK consumption and trade on ecosystems worldwide
Public Engagement Through Climate and Nature Assembly
A notable innovation in the bill is the establishment of a Climate and Nature Assembly, comprising a representative sample of the UK population. Within three months of the Act’s passing, an independent body must be appointed through open tender to establish this Assembly. The Assembly will consider expert advice and make recommendations for the strategy, with any proposals receiving 66% or more support from Assembly members being included in the final strategy unless there are exceptional reasons against their implementation.
Oversight and Monitoring
The bill assigns significant responsibilities to both the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). These bodies must:
– Evaluate and monitor strategy implementation
– Report annually on progress
– Review Assembly recommendations
– Propose measures for inclusion in the strategy
– The CCC specifically must recommend annual emissions budgets for each greenhouse gas across all UK nations
Devolved Nations’ Involvement
The legislation carefully considers the UK’s devolved structure, requiring approval from the Scottish Parliament, Senedd Cymru, and Northern Ireland Assembly for targets and measures affecting devolved matters. Each legislature must pass specific motions agreeing to both the targets and strategic measures within their competence.
Financial Provisions and Implementation
The bill ensures financial support through Parliament for all expenditure incurred under the Act. Importantly, it mandates that the strategy must have a positive impact on:
– Local communities with high deprivation ratings
– Young people
– People with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010
– Workers affected by the transition, including financial support and retrainingMonitoring and Revision
Annual reporting to Parliament is required on strategy implementation and progress toward objectives. If at any point the Secretary of State, CCC, JNCC, or House of Commons determines that the measures are unlikely to achieve the objectives based on current scientific evidence, the strategy must be revised or a statement explaining why revision isn’t necessary must be presented to Parliament.
Cross-Party Support
The bill has garnered significant cross-party backing, with supporters including Caroline Lucas, Ed Davey, Colum Eastwood, Brendan O’Hara, Olivia Blake, Sir Peter Bottomley, Daisy Cooper, Clive Lewis, Stephen Farry, Alison Thewliss, and Derek Thomas, demonstrating broad political support for urgent action on climate change and nature recovery.
This comprehensive legislation represents a significant step forward in the UK’s approach to addressing environmental challenges, combining ambitious targets with practical implementation measures and strong oversight mechanisms. If passed, it would establish one of the most robust frameworks globally for coordinated action on climate change and biodiversity loss.
Summary
**Main Objectives:**
* Requires the UK to achieve specific climate and nature targets
* Establishes mandatory duties for the Secretary of State
* Creates a new Climate and Nature Assembly
* Sets up oversight roles for key environmental committees
**Key Climate Requirements:**
* Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero
* Align with 1.5°C global temperature rise limit
* Meet obligations under UNFCCC and Paris Agreement
* Limit UK’s total emissions to its fair share of global carbon budget
**Nature Recovery Goals:**
* Halt and reverse nature degradation by 2030 (against 2020 baseline)
* Increase health, abundance, diversity, and resilience of species
* Fulfill commitments under UN Convention on Biological Diversity
* Follow Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
**Strategy Implementation:**
* Secretary of State must publish strategy within 12 months
* Include annual interim targets
* Phase out fossil fuel exploration and extraction
* Restore and expand natural ecosystems
* Minimize damage to ecosystems from emissions mitigation
* Address impacts of UK consumption and trade globally
**Public Involvement:**
* Establish Climate and Nature Assembly within 3 months
* Assembly to comprise representative sample of UK population
* Consider expert advice and publish recommendations
* Recommendations with 66% support must be included in strategy
**Oversight Mechanisms:**
* Committee on Climate Change and Joint Nature Conservation Committee to:
* Monitor implementation
* Report annually on progress
* Review Assembly recommendations
* Recommend emissions budgets
**Devolved Nations:**
* Requires approval from Scottish Parliament, Senedd Cymru, and Northern Ireland Assembly
* Specific motions needed for targets affecting devolved matters
* Strategy must respect devolved legislative competence
**Social Impact Requirements:**
* Must positively impact deprived communities
* Support young people
* Protect those with protected characteristics
* Provide financial support and retraining for affected workers
**Implementation and Review:**
* Annual reporting to Parliament required
* Regular strategy revision based on scientific evidence
* Financial provisions through Parliamentary funding
* Immediate commencement upon passing
What this bill really means
Over the past few hours, we have shown exactly how this Bill will destroy our society:
- Farming and Rural Communities:
Forced rewilding and skyrocketing costs will drive farmers off their land, collapsing food production and rural economies.
- Energy Costs:
The forced end of fossil fuels will push energy prices through the roof, leaving families in the cold and businesses shutting down.
- Travel and Freedom:
Affordable holidays and everyday travel will become luxuries, while restrictions and taxes make personal mobility impossible for many.
- Property Rights:
Homeowners and farmers will lose control of their land and homes under vague “conservation” and “sustainability” goals.
- Economic Suicide: While the UK tears itself apart with these policies, countries like China and India will dominate, leaving us weak and dependent.
Read the Bill here: https://zerohour.uk/downloads/climate-and-nature-bill.pdf
This Bill is not about protecting the environment—it is about imposing control, crippling our economy, and punishing ordinary people while achieving nothing for the planet.