Stirling MP Alyn Smith has joined cross-party efforts in the House of Commons, to push for the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill to be at the heart of the upcoming debate on the Queen’s Speech.

The Queen’s Speech sets out the main priorities of the UK government over this current parliamentary year. Green MP Caroline Lucas has urged the UK government to back her private member’s bill within the debate on the Queen’s Speech, to ensure real action is taken to address the spiralling crises.

MP Alyn Smith has added his name to an open letter from Caroline Lucas, and has backed a formal amendment to the motion discussing the Queen’s Speech itself.

Alyn Smith MP said:

‘It’s no exaggeration to say that the climate and ecological emergencies are perhaps the greatest existential threats facing humanity at the present. Scientists and experts are almost unanimous in their view that more must be done, with urgency, to curb emissions, protect wildlife and ecosystems and pursue meaningful progress towards already agreed international treaties on reducing our damage to the planet.

‘This amendment makes clear the responsibilities that lie with the UK Government in making domestic progress towards such goals, the urgent need for further joined-up legislation on this issue, and the obligation on the UK as host of the forthcoming G7 and COP26 summits to demonstrate clear international leadership on these issues.’

Notes:

You can read the open letter to the UK Government here.

You can read the amendment to the motion debating the Queen’s Speech here on page 6.