The Climate and Nature bill currently has the backing of 175 MPs, 231 scientists and 731 nature organisations in the UK. Zero Hour, the campaign that is pushing for the bill to be enshrined in law, says that the bill guarantees a “comprehensive and joined-up approach” to tackling the climate crisis, but what does the bill actually contain?
The bill outlines eight fundamental principles for addressing the climate crisis in the UK.
- Cut CO2 emissions in order to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5°C versus preindustrial levels.
The Government’s current projections for carbon usage were set in 2008. They ignore emissions caused by aviation (including international shipping) and industrial fishing practices or ‘blue carbon.’ Under this 13-year-old bill, the UK would exceed its global carbon budget by at least twice. This updated target tackles these discrepancies and sets a realistic and accurate picture for cutting UK emissions.
- Reduce the CO2 emissions caused in the manufacture of goods we import.
The emissions embedded in the import of goods to the UK rose by 72 per cent between 1996 and 2007. This bill calls for a reduction in the emissions caused by overseas manufacturing that is imported by the UK.
- Reduce the UK’s emission of methane and other greenhouse gases in line with the 1.5℃ global heating limit.
The current environment bill groups the effect of all greenhouse gases together as one. This ignores the fact that all greenhouse gases operate differently. Methane only lasts for 12 years in the atmosphere but has an intense short term heating effect. CO2 can last for 100 years and has a more consistent long-term effect on global heating. This differentiation of greenhouse gases in The Climate and Nature Bill allows their varying effects to be more accurately and appropriately addressed.
- Ensure the end of the exploration, extraction, export and import of fossil fuels by the UK as rapidly as possible.
Both the import and export of gas from the UK has risen since 2020 by 312 per cent and 167 per cent respectively. The UK imported £30.0bn of oil in 2021 and exported £28.3bn. Whilst the UK’s reliance on coal is set to end later this year with the closing of the final British coal plant to go ahead in October, the reliance on other forms of fossil fuels is a key and pertinent aspect of this bill.
- Ensure that steps taken to mitigate emissions minimise damage to ecosystems, food and water availability, and human health.
High carbon emissions create a vicious cycle whereby their presence in the atmosphere creates biodiversity loss. The loss of biodiversity (i.e. carbon sinks such as peat bogs and kelp forests that take carbon out of the atmosphere) further accelerates the loss of biodiversity. Put simply, too much carbon in the atmosphere degrades the natural systems that take carbon out of the atmosphere. According to Zero Hour,
‘Other than the Climate and Nature bill, there is currently no other proposed or actual legislation that addresses the two sides of the coin together in an integrated approach.’
- Restore and expand natural ecosystems, and enhance the management of cultivated ecosystems, to protect and enhance biodiversity.
The Environment Act (2021) merely aims to halt nature loss. The Climate and Nature bill seeks to address the UK’s status as the most nature depleted nation in the world by halting and reversing nature loss. It aims for full nature recovery in the UK by 2050.
- Include the Mitigation and Conservation Hierarchy so that any development or activity that threatens nature uses this framework to prioritise the protection of nature.
The Mitigation and Conservation Hierarchy puts nature protection and restoration at the heart of any future projects that may cause biodiversity loss. It outlines exactly how to ensure the protection of the natural world when undertaking potentially harmful activities. This creates clear directions and rules, enshrining the protection of nature in law.
- Address the UK’s entire ecological footprint at home and overseas by accounting for and monitoring the impacts on human health and the destruction of nature; through the production and consumption of goods and services and all related activity including financing, the extraction of raw materials and waste production.
25 per cent of all ecological damage is caused by the EU and UK according to the research published in the Lancet Planetary Health journal. A large proportion of the UK’s emissions are the consequence of food imports. The UK imports 50 per cent of all of its food. The Zero Hour website states that:
‘The WWF report ‘Thriving Within our Planetary Means’ shows that the UK’s overseas land footprint for just seven commodities takes up an area almost equal to the size of the UK itself.’
This final point forces the UK to address its overconsumption and reliance on overseas resources.
The Climate and Nature Bill addresses clearly the failings of current environmental legislation by being specific and targeted in its aims. It includes current scientific research and holds the UK to account both at home and overseas. This bill may be key to turning the fate of the UK around in our ever-growing climate emergency.
