LONDON — Cross-party councillors representing Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green parties today delivered an open letter to Number 10 signed by more than 500 local leaders, cabinet members and councillors calling for climate and nature duties in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

The letter calls on ministers Miatta Fahnbulleh and Katie White to introduce new climate and nature duties modelled on the local health duty already in the Bill.

Joined by Sian Berry MP and representatives from Climate Emergency UK and UK100, Cllr Katherine Dunne (Hounslow, cabinet member for climate, environment and transport — Labour), Cllr Richard Clewer (Wiltshire, Conservative group leader and UK100 co-president), Cllr Lucy Nethsingha (leader of Cambridgeshire County Council — Liberal Democrat and UK100 co-president), Cllr Rachel Smith-Lyte (East Suffolk, deputy cabinet member for environment — Green Party), Cllr David Barker (Birmingham, Labour) and Cllr Jon Tankard (lead member for sustainability and climate change, Three Rivers District — Liberal Democrat) hand delivered the letter to the government on Wednesday morning.

The letter was coordinated by Climate Emergency UK and UK100 and launched as the Devolution Bill reached the Report Stage in the House of Commons. The letter remains open for councillors to sign as the Bill progresses through the Lords.

The councillors who signed the letter include 20 leaders or deputy leaders of councils, more than 70 council cabinet members, Labour London Assembly member Leonie Cooper, and Labour mayoral candidate for Hampshire & Solent, Lorna Fielker. The list of council leaders includes:

• Adam Hug — leader of Westminster City Council (Labour)
• Phil Munday — leader of Havant Borough Council (Labour)
• Scott Patient — deputy leader, climate and environment portfolio, Calderdale MBC (Labour)
• Chloe Turner — leader of Stroud District Council (Green)
• Andy Mellen — leader of Mid Suffolk District Council (Green)
• Lisa Spivey — leader of Gloucestershire County Council (Liberal Democrat)
• Nick Ireland — leader of Dorset Council (Liberal Democrat)

Quotes

Christopher Hammond, chief executive of UK100, said:

"The extraordinary response from hundreds of councillors across almost every major party should be no real surprise. When we surveyed our members, nearly 90% of local authorities backed a statutory climate duty and the Bill before Parliament is a real opportunity for the Government to act.

"Without this statutory backing, councils will continue fighting with one hand tied behind their backs while the window to act rapidly closes."

Isaac Beevor, partnerships director of Climate Emergency UK, said:

"Local leaders are ready to deliver on climate action, but they're being held back by fragmented funding, short-term thinking and a lack of clear legal footing.

"The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill is a pivotal moment. Ministers can seize this opportunity to put climate and nature duties into the Bill. And if they don't, we're calling on the Lords to back the amendments."

Cllr Katherine Dunne, cabinet lead for climate action, environment and transport at the London Borough of Hounslow, said:

"Hounslow residents and businesses are already living the climate crisis, affected by extreme heat and flooding. Councils are at the forefront of climate action, and a statutory duty in the Devolution Bill would recognise the critical importance of this work and ensure all English councils have the framework and resources to deliver. We've shown what's possible in Hounslow through our retrofit of schools and council buildings, our support for community energy and our Grow for the Future campaign, but we need government support to match the scale of the challenge ahead."

Cllr Lucy Nethsingha, leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, said:

"The climate and nature emergencies transcends political boundaries, and our response must do the same. Strong cross-party backing demonstrates that local leaders are prepared to act, but meaningful progress depends on the government committing to a statutory duty and providing the legal framework, resources, and authority to enable bold action."

Cllr Rachel Smith-Lyte, deputy cabinet member for environment at East Suffolk Council said:

"Our Green-led council has shown what's possible when climate and nature action are woven together and embedded throughout every service the council provides. We now need the government to back councils with proper funding and powers. A statutory duty must come with the resources so that we can continue to deliver real change for our communities."

Cllr Richard Clewer, Conservative group leader at Wiltshire Council, said:

"Wiltshire is already experiencing the climate emergency with communities flooded every year. Years of work is starting to come to fruition with more EV chargers installed and hundreds of council houses retrofitted. But trailblazing councils like Wiltshire can't tackle this alone. We need a statutory duty backed by the powers and investment to protect our communities and deliver the government's national climate ambitions."

ENDS

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Media contacts

Liam Ward, UK100: liam.ward@uk100.org

Isaac Beevor, Climate Emergency UK: press@climateemergency.uk

Notes to editors

The open letter can be found here: https://bit.ly/StatutoryClimateAndNatureDuty

The exact number of councillors that signed the letter is 523 at the time of sending.

Signatories to the letter had to verify their emails to ensure that their signatures were genuine.

Signatories included councillors from almost every major party: Labour, Green, Liberal Democrat and Conservative.

About Climate Emergency UK

Climate Emergency UK is a not-for-profit which has been working with councils and residents to share best practice and to encourage effective council climate and nature action. Website: https://climateemergency.uk/

About UK100

UK100 is the only network of ambitious local, regional and strategic authorities led by all political parties working together to tackle climate change. We help local leaders overcome challenges and turn innovation into solutions that work everywhere. We build the case for the powers needed to make change happen. From cities to villages, we help communities across the UK create thriving places powered by clean energy, with fresh air to breathe, warm homes to live in, and a healthy natural environment. UK100.org

Background

UK100's member survey found that nearly 90% of local authorities backed a statutory climate duty. Read more: https://uk100.org/press-release/2025/11/hundreds-local-leaders-cabinet-members-and-councillors-call-ministers-back

Leaders and deputy leaders signing the letter include:

Labour: Adam Hug — leader of Westminster City Council; Phil Munday — leader of Havant Borough Council; Scott Patient — deputy leader, climate and environment portfolio, Calderdale MBC; Lorna Fielker — mayoral candidate for Hampshire & Solent and former leader of Southampton City Council; Leonie Cooper — assembly member, Greater London Authority, Labour & Co-operative

Liberal Democrats: Lisa Spivey — leader of Gloucestershire County Council; Nick Ireland — leader of Dorset Council; Mike Bell — leader of North Somerset District Council; Mike Evemy — leader of Cotswold District Council; Juliet Layton — deputy leader of Cotswold District Council; Peter Taylor — elected member of Watford Borough Council; Sarah Warren — deputy leader, Bath & North East Somerset; Sally Symington — deputy leader, Hertfordshire County Council; Paul Ashton — deputy leader, East Suffolk

Green Party: Andrew Mellen — leader of Mid Suffolk District; Chloe Turner — leader, Stroud District Council; Ian Davison — leader, Warwick District Council; Jim Martin — leader, Folkestone & Hythe district; Catherine Braun — deputy leader, Stroud District Council; Adrian Birch — leader, Forest of Dean District Council; Steve Ringham — co-leader, Runnymede District Council; Helen Glavin — leader of Lewes District; Cara Lavan — deputy leader of Bristol City Council; Deborah Saw — deputy leader, Babergh District Council; Julia Hilton — deputy leader, Hastings District Council

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