As Earth Day dawns on 22 April, its 2025 theme of ‘our power, our planet’ feels like a direct challenge to young people. As a climate justice activist and Climate and Nature (CAN) Bill ambassador, I’m hopeful—we’ve got to be—but let’s be honest, these are dark days for those campaigning for a liveable future.
Last year’s 1.5°C breach, the hottest year ever, shows time’s slipping away. The UK Government is dragging its feet on climate and nature action, and it’s our future at stake. As the future Opposition leader, William Hague, once told his fellow Tory members in 1977, “half of you may not be here in 30 or 40 years’ time”. That’s how I feel today. The average age of an MP is 50, but it’s me, and my generation, that will have to survive in the 2060s.
Does anyone in Whitehall think in these terms? Are any MPs really, I mean really, thinking beyond the next election in 2029? Our political system is built to prioritise short-term decisions, but as Labour themselves say, the climate and nature crisis is “greatest, long term, global challenge we face”. The emergency is here now. And we have to deal with it now, to prevent it spiralling out of control for future generations to deal with.
We can see it all around us. People are being hit by floods and choked by pollution that triggers asthma. Wildlife is crashing around us, and 73% has gone since 1970, with one in six species facing extinction. And economically, if leaders fail to act with urgency, the world’s looking at losing 3% of global GDP at 1.5°C—and 12% at 3°C of global boiling. All this, and Labour is approving new airports, funding gas power stations, rolling back environment protections, and ‘pausing’ nature friendly farming subsidies. It’s not just Labour though. Kemi Badenoch’s Tories have broken the longstanding political consensus on net zero in yet another lurch to appease Reform. This isn’t leadership. Let’s face it, it’s a betrayal to younger and future generations.
Yes, Labour have talked up “global ambition” at UNFCCC COP29 and UNCBD COP16, but fallen short on action. Their flagship Planning Bill—laying the path to build their pledged 1.5 million new homes—promised a ‘win-win’ for nature but it risks disaster. We all need warm, well-insulated homes, but this planning reform will let developers pay vague fees in place of protecting places we love, like chalk streams, threatening the foundations of our whole way of life. This Bill is ecologically illiterate and could even break international laws. Plus, it looks set to slow down the housebuilding that No. 10 wants. Also, Rachel Reeves’ Spending Review is coming up, but Labour’s already cutting nature budgets, pitting nature against development (which is a completely false economy). It’s clear that we need the same ambition for our planet as Downing Street has for their number one mission: ‘growth’. Climate and nature belong in every decision, but the Chancellor just doesn’t get it. Maybe we need to spell it out? There’s no growth on a dead planet, Ms Reeves.
I said I’m hopeful. We got to be. But almost three months on from standing outside Parliament on the day of the CAN Bill’s second reading—a moment five years in the making—my patience is wearing extremely thin. It’s the people on the frontlines who are most affected by the climate emergency and we need to stand in solidarity. This Bill is important not only for us here, but globally, to send a message that we will take action to protect our planet and the communities that are disproportionately impacted across the globe. The CAN Bill remains our best chance of bringing about real, meaningful, long-term change for climate and nature action. This world-leading legislative proposal was adjourned—but not ended—on 24 January, and though Ed Miliband has promised to meet with the CAN Bill campaign, nothing’s happened since. Steve Reed did say he was “disappointed” the Bill stalled, but as Mary Creagh declared, “talk is cheap”. What we need is for the CAN Bill to be given Government time to continue on its journey into law.
Our power, our planet is the clarion call for Earth Day 2025. Today, and every day, let’s remember that we do have power. The evidence is in: protests can persuade people, and even change how they vote. So let’s keep calling for the changes we need. Loudly, proudly, and in every way we can. To end oil and gas. To reverse the destruction of nature. That it is possible to have a more just and thriving future. And to pass a Climate and Nature Act—so that, in 30 or 40 years’ time—future generations will look back to 2025 and say, “they were good ancestors”.
