At Climate Emergency UK we have been calling for a fully-funded statutory duty on climate action for local authorities in England and Northern Ireland (Scottish and Welsh councils already have some form of climate duties).

Just last month we were notified that in the House of Lords, Lord Krebs, supported by Wildlife & Countryside Link, has brought forward the Environmental Targets (Public Authorities) Bill which states: A Bill to make provision for a statutory objective requiring public bodies to contribute to delivery of targets set under the Environment Act 2021 and Climate Change Act 2008; to place a duty on public bodies to meet this objective in the exercise of their functions; and for connected purposes.

This bill coming through the UK Parliament would only concern public bodies in England. Climate Emergency UK has decided to support this bill because it would place a duty on councils, and the rest of the public sector, to contribute (or act) to deliver the targets included in the Climate Change Act. It also does the same for nature by incorporating the targets in the Environment Act 2021.

As part of our support we have created a briefing for Lords, which will be shared by the Peers for the Planet. It covers why we need a fully-funded climate statutory duty, the impact it could have and the history of English climate statutory duties.

You can view, and download, our briefing below.

Update: Last month, during the second reading of this Bill in the House of Lords, our work and our briefing was referenced by Lord Krebs and Baroness Willis of Summertown. See here the clip from Baroness Willis of Summertown referencing the Scorecards, and find the full transcript and video linked there too.