On 24 July 2024, a coalition of high-profile climate and nature campaigners, leading scientists, and politicians from across the political spectrum have united to urge the Prime Minister to give time for the Climate and Nature Bill to progress in Parliament.
This call to action comes today as an open letter to Sir Keir Starmer is delivered to 10 Downing Street. The letter will be hand-delivered by our Zero Hour ambassadors which presents the robust, scientific reasoning for backing the CAN Bill and calls for Keir Starmers government to deliver the Climate and Nature Act.
100 influential figures have signed the letter, including:
- Liz Bonnin, President of The Wildlife Trusts and natural history TV presenter
- Dr Amir Khan GP, President of RSPB and ITV’s resident GP
- Chris Packham CBE, conservationist and wildlife TV presenter
- Etienne Stott MBE, London 2012 Olympic gold medallist
The CAN Bill has gone from strength to strength with one in four MPs (160 total) supporting it following the general election. Prominent Westminster leaders such as Ed Davey (Lib Dems), Carla Denyer (Green), Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru), and Colum Eastwood (SDLP) are among its champions. Additionally, politicians from all major parties, including Mayor Sadiq Khan (Labour) and Lord Zac Goldsmith (Conservative), have thrown their weight behind the Bill.
Among the supporters of the CAN Bill are world-renowned climate scientists, such as Royal Society Fellows, Prof. Joanna Haigh CBE and Sir David King, alongside conservation experts Prof. EJ Milner-Gulland DBE and Prof. Dave Goulson.
The Bill is the only proposed legislation that ensures a coordinated, science-led, and cross-party approach to addressing the intertwined crises of climate change and biodiversity loss—and is also endorsed by leaders from 25 faith backgrounds—as Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg shared on this morning’s ‘Thought for the Day’ segment on BBC R4 Today.
Tori Tsui, climate justice activist and one of the No. 10 petitioners, said: “As we usher in a new Government, the Climate and Nature Bill is an opportunity for all of us to be part of the monumental change we need to see. With each passing year, the intertwined climate and ecological crises are worsening due to past Governments failing to take bold, joined-up and science-led action. We’re on the precipice of climate and ecological collapse. Does this new Labour Government want to be remembered as climate leaders—or climate delayers?”
Gary McDermott, Chief Commercial Officer of The Co-operative Bank, said: “Our customers have told us that the environment is the most important issue facing them in society. That’s why we’re proud to be an ambassador of Zero Hour, the campaign for the Climate and Nature Bill. Drafted by scientists, legal experts, ecological economists and environmentalists, the CAN Bill is the only proposed legislation that would ensure a joined-up approach to tackling the climate and nature crisis, an approach that is so critically needed in order to avoid the worst effects of climate change.”
Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg OBE, Senior Rabbi of Masorti Judaism UK, said: “Today, a letter on behalf of 50,000 people will be handed into 10 Downing Street, asking Sir Keir Starmer to support the cross-party Climate and Nature Bill. Drafted by scientists, the CAN Bill has the backing of 160 MPs, and is endorsed by leaders from 25 faith backgrounds. Spiritual people can be realists too. We need not just love and faith—but law—to protect our country for everyone’s benefit.”
📻 Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg’s #TFTD on #R4Today:
“Today, a letter on behalf of 50,000 people will be handed in to @10DowningStreet, asking @Keir_Starmer to support the cross-party Climate & Nature Bill.
Drafted by scientists, the #CANBill has the backing of 160 MPs, and is… pic.twitter.com/CNwGzVTLhI
— Zero Hour (@zerohour_uk) July 24, 2024
Dr Amy McDonnell, Co-Director of Zero Hour, said: “The next four years are critical to reversing biodiversity loss and mitigating the climate crisis to avoid surpassing crucial tipping points. The new Labour Government has a small and closing window to address the warning signs scientists are showing us—something that has not been delivered by any Government. This new session of Parliament must be the moment when the Climate and Nature Bill is given time to become law.”