Zero Hour
2023 Pledge

Local elections are coming up in England on 4 May, and in Northern Ireland on 18 May. This means there’ll be new councillors across English district councils and unitary authorities, plus directly-elected mayors, and new councillors in every council across Northern Ireland.

At Zero Hour, the campaign for the Climate and Nature Bill – the bold, new, legislative plan we need to secure a liveable future – we’re asking all those standing in these elections to take our 2023 Pledge.

The pledge calls on candidates to commit, if elected, to help bring about the CAN Bill in law; doing all they can at a local level to support the Zero Hour campaign, and to call on their Council, their local MPs, and the Government, to bring this crucial legislation about.

If elected, I’ll work to make the Climate and Nature Bill law to:

• Reduce emissions in line with a fair share of the global carbon budget to limit planetary heating to 1.5°C
• Ensure that the degradation and loss of nature is in reverse by 2030
• Deliver a joined-up climate and nature plan that leaves no one behind.

Click here to read the CAN Bill, and an explanatory briefing about what it would mean in practice. The CAN Bill is a private member’s bill before the UK Parliament, and is currently backed by over 200 councils, 160 MPs and Peers, 450 charities, NGOs, and businesses; plus thousands of citizens, scientists, and local politicians.

Local councillors have a central role in tackling the greatest environmental challenge of our time. They are essential in delivering the policies and behavioural changes needed to tackle the climate-nature crisis, but, together, they can also send a powerful message to central governments that we also need strong, science-led legislation – the CAN Bill – to set the direction.

If you’re a candidate standing for election on 4 or 18 May 2023, please join Zero Hour’s 2023 Pledge campaign today by filling in your details and spreading the word via social media. Thank you.

Please contact us if you have any questions about this Zero Hour campaign.