February 24th, 2021.

Lewes District Co-Operative Alliance release:


LDC Councillors Matt Bird (Green Party) and Christine Brett (Liberal Democrats) are calling on the Government to back the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill.

The Climate and Ecological Bill was presented to the government in September 2020 and sets out an emergency approach towards ensuring the UK cuts its carbon emissions enough to stay within a 1.5 degree temperature rise by 2052 and prevent irreversible climate and ecological damage.

The Bill also suggests creating a ‘Citizens Assembly’ to support the government in delivering a climate and ecological emergency strategy.

Cllr Matt Bird who proposed the motion said: “There is little evidence that the government is addressing the climate and ecological emergency quickly enough. The Environment Bill has been delayed for a third time till at least the Autumn and they have not called in a recent decision to open a new Coal mine in Cumbria. The first for 30 years!”

Cllr Christine Brett who seconded the motion commented: “The government should be sending out strong signals that it takes climate change seriously in advance of hosting COP 26 (the Climate Summit) in Glasgow in December. Supporting the Bill would do just that!”

Cllr Bird added: “Councils, including our own, have shown leadership on climate change and worked with their communities to address the challenges we all face on the path to net zero carbon emissions by 2030. The government needs to do the same.”

The Council agreed to the motion asking local MPs to support the Bill and to align its strategies to the aims and goals of the Bill.