Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill
The Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (CEE Bill), formally known as the Climate and Ecology Bill, is a private member's bill of the Parliament of the United Kingdom aimed at tackling the climate and ecological emergency. The bill seeks to expand on the ambitions of the Climate Change Act 2008 as well as establish a citizens' assembly. It received its first reading in September 2020.
Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill | |
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Parliament of the United Kingdom | |
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Citation | Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill EDM #832 |
Considered by | Parliament of the United Kingdom |
Legislative history | |
Introduced by | Caroline Lucas |
First reading | 2 September 2020 |
Details
The Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill is a private member's bill of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that "would significantly expand the remit and scope of the Climate Change Act 2008, assigning new duties to government, parliament and the advisory Committee on Climate Change to enact a strategy that meets more ambitious targets for both climate change and biodiversity loss, as well as stronger criteria of justice, responsibility and safety."[1][2][3][4]
The bill would also establish a citizens' assembly to come up with specific plans to change society and the economy in line with the legislation's fundamental aim on the climate and ecological emergency.[5][6]
John Harris wrote in The Guardian that:
the point is not whether it will make it into law. The bill is a neat means of doing two things. It highlights how much our politicians are defying the urgency of the moment. And, by presenting clear and precise proposals to drastically reduce carbon emissions and restore biodiversity in the same typefaces and official vocabulary as the laws that define whole swathes of our lives, it makes the prospect of radical action eminently imaginable.[5]
History
Caroline Lucas tabled the bill as an early day motion on 2 September 2020 and it received its first reading the same day.[7]
Twelve MPs are sponsoring the bill: Alan Brown (SNP), Claire Hanna (Social Democratic and Labour Party), Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat), Clive Lewis (Labour), Caroline Lucas (Green), Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru), Stephen Farry (Alliance), Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru), Tommy Sheppard (SNP), Alex Sobel (Labour/Co-op), Zarah Sultana (Labour), and Nadia Whittome (Labour).[8] It is also backed by Extinction Rebellion.[9][10]
See also
References
- Vogel, Jefim. "The new UK Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill is exactly what we need – here's why". The Conversation.
- Ball, Tom. "Extinction Rebellion activists glue themselves to pavement outside parliament". The Times.
- "Climate emergency bill offers real hope | Letter". The Guardian. 2 September 2020.
- "We owe it to young people to take action on climate change - it's their future we're stealing". inews.co.uk. 19 August 2020.
- Harris, John (30 August 2020). "If democracy looks doomed, Extinction Rebellion may have an answer". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- Browne, Anthony (29 August 2020). "Extinction Rebellion's plan for eco-oligarchy". The Spectator.
- Lock, Helen (4 September 2020). "The New UK Climate Bill: Everything You Need to Know". Global Citizen.
- "Ministers 'out of sync' with public, say new climate bill campaigners". Evening Standard. 6 September 2020.
- "Extinction Rebellion to block streets in London, Manchester and Cardiff". The Guardian. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- "Extinction Rebellion activists glue themselves to ground outside parliament". The Independent. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
External links
- Campaign for the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill
- Climate and Ecology Bill 2019-21 at the Parliament of the United Kingdom