Overview

This bill mandates the UK government to meet ambitious climate and nature targets, creating a comprehensive strategy with public input to achieve net-zero emissions and halt biodiversity loss. The bill establishes a Climate and Nature Assembly to advise the government and sets out duties for relevant committees to monitor progress.

Description

The Climate and Ecology (No. 2) Bill aims to legally bind the UK to achieve ambitious climate and nature targets. Key aspects include:

• Climate Target: Reducing the UK's greenhouse gas emissions to net zero, aligning with the 1.5°C global warming limit and international commitments (UNFCCC and Paris Agreement).
• Nature Target: Halting and reversing biodiversity loss, both domestically and internationally, focusing on ecosystem recovery by 2030 and adhering to international agreements (UNCBD and Kunming-Montreal framework).
• Strategy Development: The Secretary of State must publish a strategy within 12 months, incorporating annual interim targets and measures to achieve the objectives, including phasing out fossil fuels.
• Public Involvement: A Climate and Nature Assembly, representing the UK population, will advise on the strategy, with recommendations endorsed by a supermajority being incorporated unless there are exceptional reasons not to.
• Committee Roles: The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) will evaluate, monitor, and report on the strategy's implementation.
• Devolved Powers: The bill requires consent from devolved legislatures (Scottish Parliament, Senedd Cymru, Northern Ireland Assembly) for targets and strategy measures impacting devolved areas.
• Parliamentary Oversight: The strategy will be presented to Parliament for approval, and any revisions will undergo the same process.

Government Spending

The bill states that all expenditure incurred under the act, and any increases in expenditure under other acts attributable to this act, will be paid out of money provided by Parliament. No specific figures are provided in the bill itself.

Groups Affected

• Government Departments: Multiple departments will be involved in implementing the strategy and meeting the targets, requiring significant policy changes and resource allocation.
• Businesses: Industries with high emissions and ecological impact will face significant changes, potentially needing to transition to more sustainable practices. The bill includes provision for financial support and retraining.
• Devolved Administrations: Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will be significantly impacted, needing to adapt policies and legislation to align with the bill's targets and strategy, subject to their consent.
• Public: The public will be involved through the Climate and Nature Assembly, influencing the strategy’s content. The impacts on communities will be considered, especially those facing high deprivation.
• Environmental groups: Will likely be affected by the outcome of the bill, either positively (increased protection of the environment) or negatively (potential implementation challenges).

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