Labour MPs have come under fire from environmental campaigners and party backbenchers after being instructed to oppose a climate bill that sought to make the UK’s environmental targets legally binding.
The Climate and Nature Bill, introduced by Liberal Democrat MP Roz Savage, aimed to commit the UK to international environmental standards by law.
However, Labour MPs were directed to either vote against the bill or speak at length to exhaust debate time. Labour leadership called for key clauses in the bill to be removed, arguing they were overly restrictive.
The move has sparked criticism from environmental groups and some Labour MPs, who claim it undermines efforts to tackle the UK’s status as one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.
The bill’s rejection has been labelled a missed opportunity to strengthen the UK’s response to pressing environmental challenges.
The UK is facing a growing environmental crisis, marked by a rapid decline in biodiversity, increasing water pollution, and the escalating impacts of climate change.
Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and habitat destruction are threatening ecosystems and communities across the country.
While the government has set ambitious targets, such as achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, critics argue that turning these goals into actionable policies has been slow and insufficient.
The rejection of the Climate and Nature Bill has reignited calls for stronger measures to protect the environment and hold the UK accountable to its international commitments.
The debate highlights the tension between political priorities and the urgent need to address environmental degradation, leaving campaigners and concerned MPs questioning the government’s commitment to meaningful climate action.
