Agenda item

Climate and Nature Bill 2024

Proposed by: Councillor Tess Read

Seconded by: Councillor Diana Moore 

The purpose of this motion is to ask Exeter’s two MPs, Steve Race and David Reed, to support the Climate and Nature Bill currently progressing through Parliament. The Bill aims to:

·         require the United Kingdom to achieve climate and nature targets; 

·         give the Secretary of State a duty to implement a strategy to achieve those targets; 

·         establish a Climate and Nature Assembly to advise the Secretary of State in creating that strategy; and

·         give duties to the Committee on Climate Change and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee regarding strategy, targets, and connected purposes.

The second reading of the Bill will take place in the House of Commons on 24th January 2025.[1]

This Council notes that:

• Exeter City Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019 and passed a further motion declaring a Climate and Ecological Emergency on 27th April 2021 resulting in the Council declaring an “Ecological Emergency to supplement and strengthen the Climate Change Emergency declaration of July 2019 by this Council”.[2]
• Exeter City Council also resolved to “continue to work with partners, both locally and regionally, including DCC, to achieve net zero carbon objectives, and to conserve and support the recovery of the natural environment. To support community consultation with respect to identifying solutions to address both climate and ecological emergencies. To request that our two MPs support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill.”
• On 21st March 2024 the Climate and Ecology Bill (CE Bill) was renamed the Climate and Nature Bill (CAN Bill). [3]

Therefore this Council resolves to 

• Write to Exeter’s two MPs, Steve Race and David Reed, to ask them to support the Climate and Nature Bill [4] as it progresses through Parliament, in particular at its second reading in the House of Commons on 24 January 2025.

Councillor Read moved and was seconded by Councillor Moore, a Notice of Motion in the following terms:

“The purpose of this motion is to ask Exeter’s two MPs, Steve Race and David Reed, to support the Climate and Nature Bill currently progressing through Parliament. The Bill aims to:

·         require the United Kingdom to achieve climate and nature targets; 

·         give the Secretary of State a duty to implement a strategy to achieve those targets; 

·         establish a Climate and Nature Assembly to advise the Secretary of State in creating that strategy; 

·         give duties to the Committee on Climate Change and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee regarding strategy, targets and connected purposes.

The second reading of the Bill will take place in the House of Commons on 24th January 2025.

This Council notes that:

·         Exeter City Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019 and passed a further motion declaring a Climate and Ecological Emergency on 27th April 2021 resulting in the Council declaring an “Ecological Emergency to supplement and strengthen the Climate Change Emergency declaration of July 2019 by this Council”.

·         Exeter City Council also resolved to “continue to work with partners, both locally and regionally, including DCC, to achieve net zero carbon objectives, and to conserve and support the recovery of the natural environment. To support community consultation with respect to identifying solutions to address both climate and ecological emergencies. To request that our two MPs support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill.”

·         On 21st March 2024 the Climate and Ecology Bill (CE Bill) was renamed the Climate and Nature Bill (CAN Bill).

Therefore this Council resolves to:

• Write to Exeter’s two MPs, Steve Race and David Reed, to ask them to support the Climate and Nature Bill  as it progresses through Parliament, in particular at its second reading in the House of Commons on 24 January 2025.”

Councillor Vizard, as Portfolio Holder for Climate, Ecological Change and Communities welcomed debate on the climate emergency making the following points:

·        there was not yet a published Bill;

·        the Private Members Bill contained no detail;

·        he was committed to urgent action but wouldn’t be supporting as the Government had actions in place including the Water Special Measures Bill and a new public company for power; and

·        he had confidence in the Exeter MP.

Councillor Moore as seconder spoke in support of the motion making the following points:

·        she hoped that private members bills would come forward;

·        MPs would inform the detail of the Bills during the second reading;

·        The Environment Act would require the UK to achieve climate and nature targets;

·        a CAN assembly would be created, informed by evidence; and

·        policies and targets would be brought forward as a result.

In summing up Councillor Read stated that policies and strategies did not yet have detail but there appeared to be consensus but not on asking MPs to support the Bill and that 100 MPs were needed to support and 80, mostly Labour were already showing support.

Following a vote the motion was NOT CARRIED.