Revealed: 17 union chiefs urge PM to support backbench climate bill

Union leaders have written to Keir Starmer calling on him to back a new bill that will require the UK to set more ambitious climate change targets, LabourList can reveal.

The Climate and Nature Bill, a backbench private members’ bill backed by more than 200 MPs including 88 Labour MPs, is set to be debated in Parliament on Friday.

If passed, it will require the UK to achieve climate and nature targets, including fulfilling its obligations under the Paris Agreement, and will require the secretary of state to implement a strategy to achieve those targets within 12 months of the Bill passing.

Writing to the Prime Minister, the 17 trade union leaders warned that the “climate-nature crisis is already impacting workers’ lives and livelihoods across the UK”, as they called on him to support it.

The signatories include the general secretaries of the National Education Union; Bakers, Food & Allied Workers Union; University and Colleges Union; and the Public & Commercial Services Union.

READ MORE: ‘We have a narrow window to cut emissions – we need a Climate Change Act 2’

They said it was essential that “Parliament sets the strongest laws to rise to this existential threat”, while protecting the future livelihoods of the British public.

The bill has already been backed by more than one in five Labour MPs, and counts party MPs Alex Sobel and Olivia Blake among its co-sponsors.

Environmental campaign group Zero Hour, which supports the bill, said that MPs should be afforded a free vote, similar to Kim Leadbeater’s Assisted Dying Bill.

READ MORE: ‘We’re behind on our climate targets for 2030. So make action a council duty’

Co-director of Zero Hour, Amy McDonnell, said: “The Climate and Nature Bill tackles the environmental emergency by introducing an integrated plan to protect our planet for future generations, led by the science.”

“What could be a bigger issue of conscience than whether we save the planet or let it burn up? Keir Starmer needs to make sure MPs get a free vote next week and back the Bill.”

A government spokesperson said: “The only way to protect current generations in the UK is by making Britain a clean energy superpower, and the only way to protect our children and future generations is by leading global climate action.

“That’s why we have launched a rapid review to deliver on our legally binding environment targets and have set an ambitious new climate target to reduce emissions by 81% by 2035 – which will deliver security, jobs and economic growth as we drive forward with our Plan for Change to rebuild Britain.”

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