Shropshire activists are at the forefront of attempts to persuade millions of people to support environmental legislation

Salopians will be at the forefront of the fight to get the National Trust’s 5.3 million members to back the Climate and Nature Bill at the organisation’s annual general meeting in Newcastle this Saturday 2 November.

The Bill promises to bring UK legislation in line with the latest science to ensure the country meets two internationally agreed environmental commitments: to reduce emissions in line with our share of the 1.5C carbon budget; and halt and reverse nature loss by 2030.

The CAN Bill, as it is informally known, was reintroduced into the new session of the UK Parliament on 16 October by Dr Rose Savage MP (Lib Dem, South Cotswolds) with 11 co-sponsors including the Conservatives, Labour, SNP, Liberals. Dem, Green and Plaid Cymru MPs. Dr Savage, one of the new MPs, is a long-time environmental campaigner and holds a world record for single ocean rowing.

Jamie Russell, a campaigner from Shrewsbury, presented the National Trust’s proposal and will address members at the AGM.

He said: “My children have grown up walking through the woods and manor house at Attingham Park and walking along the Long Mynd, thanks to the vital work the National Trust does to protect our green spaces and preserve our heritage.

“This motion asks the Foundation to support the Climate and Nature Science Bill to ensure our future is as protected as our past. More than 1,000 other leading organizations support the bill, including the National Federation of Women’s Institutes, Friends of the Earth. , Wildlife Trusts, Co-operative Bank, CPRE, British Rowing, UK Doctors Association and it would be great to see the National Trust join them as the Bill enters an exciting moment in the UK Parliament.”

The Climate and Nature Bill will undergo its second reading on January 24 next year, when at least 102 MPs will vote for it to advance to committee stage.

The CAN Bill has already been supported by 187 cross-party MPs, including Shrewsbury MP Julia Buckley (Labour) and North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan (Lib Dem). It also has the support of 1,200 UK climate and nature scientists and 372 local councils including Shropshire, Shrewsbury, Ludlow, Oswestry and others.

Dugald Perse, a veteran forest ranger from Shrewsbury and one of the movement’s sponsors, said: “I have seen first-hand the tragedy unfolding in our forests and green spaces. We risk losing vital habitats and species forever as the climate and nature crisis accelerates.

“I am very pleased to see that the National Trust board supports these members’ proposal and I hope that the 5.3 million members will support it too. We desperately need a climate and nature bill to succeed.”