We’re writing to let you know about a new proposed piece of UK legislation that “addresses the full extent” of the “climate emergency”. Yikes!  The Climate and Nature Bill (CAN Bill) is like Net Zero on steroids (or maybe Bovaer?) – and it appears to have the support of nearly a third of MPs. The CAN Bill was initially introduced by then Green MP Caroline Lucas in 2020 under a different name. It started its current passage through Parliament in October and is due for its second reading on 24 January 2025.  In keeping with other bad and extreme policy ideas majoring on the word “zero”, backers of the CAN Bill have set up a website called “Zero Hour” here – have a look and see if your MP is one of the 188 apparently backing it on this page…

https://www.zerohour.uk/mps/

Before you pack your bags to start a new life in another country, we should point out that CAN is a private members’ bill rather than a piece of legislation initiated by a minister on behalf of the government. Traditionally, private members’ bills are used mostly by backbench MPs to raise awareness around a certain issue. Only a minority of private members’ bills (around 1 in 20 in the period 2010-2024) actually make it into law. But the CAN Bill is worth our attention for a number of reasons.  First, it’s very much an expression of the current climate madness and the way-of-life-ending measures that the government is trying to impose in the name of Net Zero. Second, the Bill, which has been tabled by new Liberal Democrat MP Roz Savage, has an influential lobby group behind it, including MPs, peers, celebrities, NGOs and corporations. Just as the wider public is waking up to the damage caused by Net Zero, this group of campaigners are upping the pressure for the imposition of yet more destructive measures. Third, there is a possibility that the CAN bill could become law. After all, the controversial Assisted Dying Bill currently making its way through Parliament is also a private members’ bill. (You can find out more about the legislative process here.) So what does the CAN Bill entail? If passed, it would oblige the Energy Minister to create a new climate change strategy and present it before Parliament within a year. The Government would be required by law to “limit the UK’s total CO2 emissions to no more than its proportionate share of the IPCC’s remaining global carbon budget, for a 67% chance of limiting heating to 1.5°C.” How wonderful to have such certainty! It would also “ensure the end of the exploration, extraction, export and import of fossil fuels by the UK as rapidly as possible.” As part of this process, the minister would be required to commission an “expert independent body” to establish a Climate and Nature Assembly within three months. The assembly would be composed of “ordinary” British people and would make recommendations which, if approved by the Committee on Climate Change and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, be included in the strategy. This is “an essential tool for bringing the public along with the unprecedented pace of change required.” But fear not: these citizens “will hear evidence from a wide range of experts.” The use of “citizen assemblies” to endorse repressive policies while giving an illusion of public support is something that should be of concern – you can find an illuminating video about this here.  Basically, the CAN Bill would tie the British government into fulfilling the recommendations that come out of this process.  Although the resulting “strategy” would be put before parliament, it’s not clear how much scrutiny it would get. After all, Net Zero was itself imposed after a paltry 90 minutes of debate. Given this, and Covid, do we trust most of our MPs to examine new policies properly and consider their implications from the public’s point of view? 

https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3707

Wirral Residents Association

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