I’m passionate about creating a better world for current and future generations. I’m also acutely aware that in 100 years’ time, our grandchildren, and their children, will judge our generation on the actions we take — or fail to take — today. Will we be the generation that seized the last, best chance to turn the tide on climate and ecological breakdown?
I’ve been an environmental campaigner for 20 years, raising awareness about the climate and ecological emergencies — and I’ll be carrying on this work as the MP for the South Cotswolds. Campaigning isn’t a ‘one-size-fits-all’; everyone has a different way to contribute to something they believe in. For me, this came in the form of rowing solo across three oceans — the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian — and sharing my environmental message through social media from the middle of the ocean. I know this isn’t the most orthodox method of calling for change. But, for me, this is what made sense. I tried to walk the path of what many would call a ‘typical’ career, but I was left feeling the need for a life of adventure, and for a stronger sense of purpose and fulfilment, which led me to the ocean.
Rowing across the oceans, alone, is no easy task — but it gives you a unique perspective on the beauty and strength of our natural world and the interconnectivity (for better or for worse) of people, climate and nature. I came to realise just how dependent we are on Earth’s ecosystems, and also how vulnerable we are to our planet’s changing climate. It seems like an obvious truth, but we have to look after our home if we want it to look after us. Yet many still act as if it’s ‘business as usual’, while flooding, wildfires and droughts wreak havoc across the world — and hurt the communities we, MPs, are elected to help.
I’m a new Lib Dem MP, and when I found out — nine weeks in the job — that I’d been drawn third in the private members’ bill ballot, I knew I had a rare opportunity to advance a cause I’ve dedicated my life to. After many wonderful suggestions from constituents and campaigners, I decided that it had to be the Climate and Nature Bill.
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The CAN Bill would establish a whole-of-government strategy for climate and nature action, built on three pillars: climate, nature and people. It would lock Britain’s international commitments into law — halting (and crucially) reversing nature loss by 2030 (agreed in Montreal at COP15) — and reducing the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions in line with 1.5°C (agreed in Paris at COP21). The Bill would account for the UK’s global emissions and ecological footprints and, crucially, its ‘social lock’ would ensure that the public is involved in, and vulnerable communities are protected by, the just transition we need.
Zero Hour, the cross-party CAN Bill campaign, is a mass-mobilisation movement based on the tried-and-tested model which led to the (then groundbreaking) Climate Change Act 2008. With 250 MPs and Peers on board, the caucus behind the Bill is the largest cross-party platform for climate and nature action in Westminster, but public participation will be key to its success. That’s why it’s so reassuring to see such a broad range of support for the CAN Bill — from major NGOs and businesses, like The Climate Coalition and The Co-operative Bank — to local groups and charities, like the Wiltshire Climate Alliance and UK Youth for Nature. 372 councils, from Cotswold District Council to Birmingham City Council, are behind the campaign; as are over 1,000 scientists, including five Nobel Laureates, who are calling for a Climate and Nature Act.
Despite the sterling efforts of Caroline Lucas, Olivia Blake and Alex Sobel over 2019-24, it’s no surprise that the CAN Bill didn’t progress in the last parliament. Unfortunate delays and u-turns on climate and biodiversity delivery have held us back. However, we now operate in a very different political climate. The new government has begun to set out its green plans, with David Lammy pledging to integrate Britain’s climate and nature action; as well as welcome steps from Ed Miliband and Steve Reed.
In opposition, Labour backed the CAN Bill’s “ambition” and has demonstrated their support for its objectives. In 2021, Labour tried to amend the Environment Act to begin to reverse the decline of nature no later than 2030. And earlier this year, before the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill fell, Labour pushed amendments to block new licences unless they were consistent with 1.5°C — which of course they aren’t.
These are promising signs that we may have a government that recognises that the climate and nature crisis is “the greatest, long-term, global challenge we face”. As the prime minister said ahead of COP26, “the eyes of the world [were] on the UK” to see if we would “back up” our international commitments. Now, the eyes of the country are on this government. Will they support my Climate and Nature Bill at its second reading on 24 January 2025? I’m hopeful they will, and I’m looking forward to working with them in the months ahead.
But it boils down to this. Will we, a new generation of MPs, deliver the ‘Climate Change Act 2’ that the UK needs? Will we do what’s necessary to lock the science into law — and secure a fairer, more sustainable future for all? Or will we be remembered, not only by future generations — but also by the voting public in 2029 — as the parliament that kicked the can down the road?
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