Thoughts on the “Climate and Nature Bill”

Earlier this week, I was given a link to a private members’ bill, originally introduced by Alex Sobel MP (Labour Co-op, Leeds Central and Headingley), called the “Climate and Nature Bill.” This had its first reading in Parliament, as far as I can make out, on March 21^st, 2024.

Here is the link: [[1]]. This version is, presumably, the one which had the first reading.

Sobel has a history of environmental extremism, see his Wikipedia entry: [[2]]. He retained his seat on July 4^th: [[3]].

Some thoughts on the content of the bill:

• 1(2)(a). It sets a “climate target” apparently based on the Paris agreement, but presumably including subsequent developments too.
• 1(2)(b). It sets a “nature target” that demands that the UK “halts and reverses its overall contribution to the degradation and loss of nature in the United Kingdom and overseas.” Yet no evidence is provided of any such “contribution” to any “degradation and loss.” Google “nature degradation and loss proofs” and you come up with: Friends of the Earth, a UN report of 6 May 2019, Green Finance Institute and other similarly biased organizations.

And this from an official government blog: [[4]]. Which includes “the commitment by nations to protect 30% of their land and seas for nature, by 2030.” When did we ever vote for that?

• 1(2)(b)(ii). The “Leaders’ Pledge for Nature” referred to here is outlined by the WWF, in a very activist way, here: [[5]]. 8(1) later says that it is “the agreement of the United Nations Summit on Biodiversity on 28 September 2020.”
• I would draw your attention to the list of responsibilities in (2)(3):
  1. Most of all, point (d): “Ensuring the end of the exploration, export and import of fossil fuels by the United Kingdom as rapidly as possible.”
  2. Secondly, point (h)(i), demanding “avoidance,” “limiting,” “restoring” or “offsetting” of “adverse impacts in the United Kingdom and overseas on ecosystems and human health” of “United Kingdom-generated production and consumption of goods and services” and “all related trade, transport and financing.”

This looks to me like an explicit demand, not only to end the use of all fossil fuels, but also to end all economic freedom in the UK. That such a demand could ever become law without at the very least a referendum on the issues is a sad comment on the current state of UK politics.

• 3(1). Requires “an expert independent body” to establish “a Climate and Nature Assembly… comprising a representative sample of the United Kingdom population.” This looks like an attempt to repeat the saga of the biased “UK Climate Assembly,” about which I wrote here: [[6]].
• 3(4). The involvement of the CCC does not bode well for the impartiality of such a body. Nor, much, does the involvement of JNCC: [[7]].
• (7). Financial Provisions. Hmmm. I wonder why this section is in italics?
• Final page. “Supporters” of the bill include Caroline Lucas (Green), Ed Davey (Lib Dem leader), Colum Eastwood (SDLP), Brendan O’Hara (SNP), Peter Bottomley (Tory, no longer in parliament), Stephen Farry (Alliance, no longer in parliament). This nonsense goes all the way through 7 establishment parties.

The bill is due its second reading on January 24^th, 2025 [[8]]. Its sponsor is now Roz Savage (Lib Dem, South Cotswolds).

This would seem like an opportunity for Reform UK to make some waves. For example, by inquiring:

• Why the UN is being allowed to control UK policies.
• Why a private members’ bill is being used to introduce “by the back door” a policy as radical as ending the use of fossil fuels.
• Where the specific evidence is of “degradation” that must be “reduced.”
• How this policy could possibly be in the interests of the people of the UK in the current economic situation. Or, indeed, at any other time.

[[1]] https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-04/0192/230192.pdf

[[2]] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Sobel

[[3]] https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/4134/election/422

[[4]] https://naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2023/09/29/state-of-nature/

[[5]] https://explore.panda.org/newdeal/leaders-pledge-for-nature

[[6]] https://wattsupwiththat.com/2023/04/12/climate-crisis-what-climate-crisis-part-two-where-we-are-in-the-uk-today/

[[7]] https://jncc.gov.uk/

[[8]] https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3776/stages/19018