Lib Dem Motion passes: Supporting the Climate and Ecology Bill

Inspired by a visit to the King Edwards Camp Hill schools back in October, Councillor Izzy Knowles, supported by Councillor Deborah Harries, chose to bring a motion to council that would promote positive climate action.

Climate change is something that worries people, especially young people, and it's small wonder, given the scale of the problem.

However our council group believe that we need to tackle this head on, and encourage positive change through localism and by ensuring that it remains a priority on the council and at Government level. 

The motion was amended and approved at full council on 9 January - the full and final motion is here:

“Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt in the UK, and across the world. The average global temperature has already increased by 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels and alongside this, the natural world has reached crisis point, with 28% of plants and animals threatened with extinction.

The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world as more than one in seven of our plants and animals face extinction, and more than 40% are in decline.

Climate change remains a major concern for UK voters with 66% of people (according to YouGov) expressing they are ‘worried about climate change and its effects’.

Alongside this, the popularity of Sir David Attenborough’s Save Our Wild Isles initiative demonstrates public concern that UK wildlife is being destroyed at a terrifying speed.

Climate & Ecology Bill

The Climate & Ecology Bill, a private member’s bill is expected to go back before the House of Commons in early 2024. It seeks to address the challenges that this situation poses by creating a whole-of-government approach to deliver a net zero and nature positive future.

Based on the latest science, the CE Bill aims to:

• Align current UK environmental policy on the need to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030, which was goal agreed to at COP15, via the Kunming-Montreal Framework (22 December 2022) and;

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the UK’s fair share of the

remaining global carbon budget to give the strongest chance of limiting global heating to 1.5°C, which was the goal agreed to at COP21, via the Paris Agreement (12 December 2015).

By bridging the gap between the UK Government’s current delivery and what has been agreed at international levels, Britain has a chance to be a world leader on climate and the environment; seizing the opportunities of the clean energy transition, including green jobs and skills, reduced energy bills and a boost for the UK’s food and energy security.

Council notes that:

In declaring a climate emergency in 2019, it made a commitment to reduce the city’s carbon emissions and limit the climate crisis. As part of this declaration, an ambitious target was set for ‘the council and city to become net zero carbon by 2030, or as soon as possible thereafter as a just transition allows', going beyond the Government's own net zero by 2050 target.

Birmingham’s greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by 37% compared to 2005 levels.

The Climate Change, Nature and Net Zero Programme Board has brought the dual challenge of nature and climate together, to drive forward the council’s decarbonisation efforts, and accelerate the City of Nature Plan.

The Climate and Ecology Bill has been introduced in the UK Parliament on four occasions since 2020. It is expected to go before the House in early 2024. It is already supported by:

• Over 130 Cross-party MPs and Peers including 4 of the 10 Birmingham MP’s and all Liberal Democrat MP’s.

• 40 Lords of which 15 are Lib Dems.

• 329 Local authorities. Birmingham would be the first of the 7 WMCA local authorities to sign up.

• Eminent scientists, such as Sir David King.

• NGOs, such as Friends of the Earth (including the Birmingham branch), The Wildlife Trusts, the Doctors’ Association, Oxfam, the W.I. and CPRE.

• Businesses, such as The Co-operative Bank, Riverford and The Body Shop; and 42,000 members of the public.

The Climate and Ecology Bill would require the UK Government to develop and achieve a new environmental strategy, which would include:

1. Delivering a joined-up environmental plan, as the crises in climate and nature are deeply intertwined and require a plan that considers both together.

2. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with 1.5°C to ensure emissions are reduced in line with the best chance of meeting the UK’s Paris Agreement obligations.

3. Not only halting, but also reversing the decline in nature, setting nature measurably on the path to recovery by 2030.

4. Taking responsibility for our overseas footprin, both emissions and ecological.

5. Prioritising nature in decision-making.

6. Ending fossil fuel production and imports as rapidly as possible.

7. Providing for re-training for those people currently working in fossil fuel industries; and

8. Giving the British people a say in finding a fair way forward via a temporary, independent, and representative Climate & Nature Assembly, as part of creating consensus and ensuring that no one and no community is left behind.

Council therefore resolves to:

1. Support the Climate and Ecology Bill, subject to central government developing an appropriate environmental delivery strategy, including the provision of appropriate financial and other resources for local authorities;

2. Inform local residents and local press/media of this decision;

3. Write to MPs, Lords and local Environmental groups to inform them that this motion has been passed, and urge them to sign up to support the CE Bill—or thank them for already doing so;

4. Write to Zero Hour, the organisers of the cross-party campaign for the CE Bill, expressing the Council’s support (councils@zerohour.uk).

5. Continue the work of the Climate Change, Nature and Net Zero Advisory Committee, which advocates and supports the strategic objectives of the Climate Change, Nature and Net Zero Programme.

6. Encourage discussion about environmentalism and green issues at ward meetings.

7. Ensure that the Route to Zero Strategy remains a top priority during the council’s current transformation process.”