Change doesn’t happen overnight—especially not in British politics! But on 24 January 2025, anyone who is desperate for ‘change’ when it comes to the UK’s response to the climate and nature crisis will have an historic opportunity to see it happen in real time. That’s because 24 January is the day when the Climate and Nature Bill is debated and voted on for the very first time in the House of Commons. This is going to be HUGE!
Those with long memories will know that the Climate and Nature Bill has been in Parliament since 2020. Over those years, the Bill was introduced by a cross-party group of politicians—Greens, Labour, Lib Dems—as Presentation or as Ten-Minute Rule Bills. Both are types of Private Member’s Bills (PMBs) by individual MPs or Peers.
These types of PMBs are fantastic tools for raising awareness of important issues and generating discussion. However, they are very difficult to progress in Parliament because they are not allotted time for debate and discussion. As a result, PMBs rarely succeed without government backing. But there is a way.
Enter—the Ballot Bill
Another method for a Private Member’s Bill to get a good shot at progressing is via the Private Member’s Bill Ballot (PMBB). The ballot is an opportunity for backbench MPs from all parties to enter a parliamentary ‘lottery’. The successful 20 MPs picked out of the hat have an opportunity to advance any legislation of their choice.
The 20 Ballot Bills put forward have a real chance of progressing. The top 7 MPs picked in the Ballot are almost certainly guaranteed to have a day of debate at the Second Reading of their chosen legislation.
This gives their Ballot Bills the chance to advance to committee stage, the next hurdle in the progress of a Bill going through Parliament. For an explainer of all the stages proposed legislation goes through as it advances through the House of Commons and House of Lords, see this guide.
So we were thrilled when 4 of the 7 seven MPs in this year’s PMB Ballot list were CAN Bill supporters—and we were over the moon when Liberal Democrat MP, Dr Roz Savage (South Cotswolds), announced she would take the CAN Bill forward as her Ballot Bill choice. A passionate environmental campaigner and world record-breaking solo ocean rower, this newly-elected MP was the CAN Bill champion of our dreams.
If the CAN Bill had spent four years as Cinderella, Roz Savage was about to become its Fairy Godmother, waving her magic wand—or ocean rowing oar—and ensuring that it would go to the parliamentary ball!
Best of all, because the CAN Bill was introduced via the PMB Ballot, the Commons Speaker confirmed that the Bill will have its crucial second reading on 24 January 2025. For the first time ever, the CAN Bill will be debated and voted on in Parliament.
Failure—it’s not an option
So what happens next? Well, at the CAN Bill’s second reading, MPs will gather to debate the Bill and vote on whether to support it—or not. The CAN Bill needs at least 102 supporting votes to progress. That’s 100 votes in favour, plus two MPs as ‘tellers’ (who verify the vote). If it fails to get that many, it falls—and is no longer ‘live’.
It’s fair to say that the CAN Bill falling would be a disaster. It’s taken Zero Hour four years to build to this moment. We cannot afford to see the CAN Bill fall—and nor can our families, our communities, or our planet. Over 1,200 leading UK climate and conservation scientists recently wrote to all MPs warning them that the window to act is rapidly closing. We do not have another four years to campaign for the CAN Bill all over again.
So, it all hangs on at least 102 MPs showing up to vote. With 187 MPs already supporting the CAN Bill, this feels like an achievable target. But there are wildcard factors.
The second reading is scheduled for a Friday, a day when most MPs have headed back to their constituencies—especially those who live far from Westminster. There’s also the worry that supporting MPs will feel complacent—and convinced that other supporters will show up and vote—and not go themselves.
Will your supporting MP walk the walk, as well as talk the talk?
That’s why we need to throw everything into this campaign between now and 24 January. We need everyone to email, write, call, tweet and meet their MP to ensure that this historic landmark—and vitally needed legislation—is at the top of the agenda.
But most importantly, we need those of you who have a supporting MP to ask them—point blank, but politely—if they will be there for the vote on 24 January. It’s a now or never moment because we won’t get a second chance.
With the impacts of the climate and nature crisis getting worse with each passing month, we need our politicians to turn their words into action. Will they be the heroes we need and ensure the UK meets its internationally-agreed pledges on climate and nature? Or will they drop the baton at this crucial, final moment? Bluntly, will they allow the CAN to be kicked down the road?
All eyes are on them. To email your MP and ensure they are at this crucial vote please, take action here. It takes 3 minutes. And it could make all the difference.