Climate and Nature (CAN) Bill
[Last updated 11/02/25]
Tackling the effects of climate change has long been a personal priority of mine, which I hope you’ll have seen during my time as your MP. I recently welcomed constituents’ engagement on this issue at my Climate Change Town Hall event in Henleaze on 18th January, for example.
I have also supported previous iterations of the CAN Bill in Parliament. Now, as a government minister, I am not procedurally permitted to support backbench bills such as this one.
You’ll have seen from the House that the Bill was not pushed to a vote as Parliament voted to adjourn the debate. This is because Roz Savage MP, the sponsor of the Bill, and other supporters instead agreed to work with Government Ministers to carry forward the spirit and the substance of the Bill, including strengthening action on nature, having an annual climate and nature statement to Parliament and the country, and facilitating greater public participation on these issues. I voted to adjourn the debate in light of this welcome development.
The current Government is acutely aware that the climate and nature crisis is growing ever more urgent. The UK already has a well-developed legislative framework with legally binding targets, including the Climate Change Act 2008 and the Carbon Budgets. Yet, as the Climate Change Committee’s most recent progress report made clear, the previous Government was off track when it comes to taking action. I welcome that since coming to office, the new Government has already introduced a world-leading agenda on climate and nature action, making rapid progress and overturning the legacy of the previous administration.
For instance, we have acted immediately by removing the de facto ban on new onshore wind in England, giving approval for enough solar energy to power hundreds of thousands of homes and securing a record-breaking 131 new renewable electricity projects across Britain. We have also introduced legislation to establish Great British Energy, a new publicly owned company that will own, manage and operate clean power projects throughout the country.
I also welcome the commitments made on our natural environment, including halting the decline of British species by 2030 and developing a new, statutory plan to protect and restore our natural environment with delivery to meet each of our Environment Act targets. I am confident the Government will help deliver on many of the aims of the CAN Bill and can assure you that I will always support action to deliver effective leadership on the climate and nature crisis.