A critical climate and environmental bill, which would have made the UK legally bound to meet its climate targets, now faces a bleak future after Labour MPs were instructed to oppose it, following failed negotiations. The bill, introduced by Liberal Democrat MP Roz Savage, gained widespread support from environmental groups and over 80 Labour MPs, including several ministers. However, Labour’s insistence on removing clauses that would enforce legal commitments to meet climate goals from international summits like COP has led to significant friction.
The bill sought to introduce concrete steps to address the UK’s environmental challenges, including the ongoing depletion of nature and the climate crisis. Yet, Labour’s opposition to binding commitments rendered the bill much less impactful, according to its supporters. Savage, an environmental activist and former ocean rower, was optimistic when the bill was introduced, believing that it could gain traction with Labour’s backing. Her hope was bolstered by her third-place finish in the private member’s bill ballot, which would allow her bill to receive significant parliamentary time. However, as talks broke down, Labour MPs were instructed by the party’s leadership to actively hinder its passage.
Nature and climate organizations had rallied behind Savage’s proposal, arguing that it was a vital move in the fight against environmental degradation. The National Trust, for example, emphasized the importance of the government demonstrating leadership in both domestic and international environmental efforts. Similarly, Harry Bowell, from the National Trust, stressed that the bill represented a significant opportunity for MPs to press the government to take more urgent action on environmental issues, especially given the country’s position as one of the most nature-depleted in the world.
Despite Labour’s stance, some MPs, like Clive Lewis from Norwich South, have vowed to support the bill, arguing that it represents a necessary step toward demonstrating Labour’s commitment to a sustainable economy and the protection of nature. Lewis’s stance reflects growing frustration among climate activists and some Labour members, who fear the party’s recent actions are backtracking on climate and nature commitments.
As the bill moves toward its second reading, its future remains uncertain, with many wondering whether Labour’s leadership will relent or if grassroots support within the party will sway the outcome. For now, the bill’s fate seems tied to the complex dynamics within Labour and the broader political landscape.
