Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has joined local leaders across the country in a push for a climate duty as the Devolution Bill returns to Parliament.
Mr Burnham, East Midlands Mayor Clare Ward and hundreds of local leaders have called for a new statutory duty on councils to prioritise climate action, as the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill returns to Parliament today.
Both Labour mayors have signed a Friends of the Earth climate pledge urging ministers to embed ‘statutory responsibilities’ for climate action in the Bill. Their intervention comes as more than 440 councillors from across England – including 22 council leaders or deputy leaders and 61 cabinet members – sign an open letter backing a climate duty and strengthened nature protections.
Launched by UK100 and Climate Emergency UK, the letter arrives ahead of key report stage debates, where amendments supported by 24 cross-party MPs seek to require local authorities to prioritise climate and safeguard nature.
