More than 170 Sidmouth and Honiton residents have signed an open letter calling on the Prime Minister to tackle climate change amid claims the government is dragging its heels over the issue.
The letter, along with others from all 650 constituencies across the UK, was delivered to Number 10 by VIPs, including celebrity chef and campaigner, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, on Monday (July 7).
Local signatory Dr Brian Jones told reporters that residents want “real change”, linking climate action to warmer, well‑insulated homes, lower bills, cleaner air and water, and enhanced food security.
He said the government was “dragging its heels” over the issue, adding that the Climate and Nature Bill “is the landmark legislation that would unlock all these benefits for Honiton and Sidmouth”.
The coordinated campaign supports the cross‑party Climate and Nature Bill (also known as the CAN Bill), a private members’ bill introduced in October 2024.
Its second reading took place in January this year, but MPs voted 120 to seven to adjourn debate until this Friday (July 11), making further progress unlikely without government backing.
Backed by more than 380 local councils, 1,200 scientists (including five Nobel laureates), and prominent organisations such as the National Trust, Friends of the Earth, the NF‑WI and Triodos Bank, it remains the largest cross‑party environmental movement in Westminster.
Energy secretary Ed Miliband has pledged support for the “spirit and substance” of the bill, while environment secretary Steve Reed expressed disappointment that it had not proceeded.
Hugh Fearnley‑Whittingstall urged the prime minister to “get a grip on the climate and nature crisis” and stop what he called “dither and delay” from the current administration, warning of far‑reaching consequences if action was not prioritised.
Dr Amy McDonnell, co‑director of environmental campaign Zero Hour, stressed that 89 per cent of people globally want more climate action, calling on Starmer to demonstrate leadership by backing the bill and delivering for communities such as Honiton and Sidmouth.
UK preparedness "inadequate"
The independent Climate Change Committee (CCC), in its April progress assessment, stated that UK preparedness for climate impacts remains “inadequate”, with limited improvement since the previous year.
It noted that over half of England's top-quality agricultural land is now at flood risk, and approximately 6.3 million properties are vulnerable to flooding - projected to reach eight million by 2050.
The CCC noted that adaptation efforts have been “piecemeal and disjointed”, warning that insufficient planning in crucial areas such as rail, roads, healthcare, water infrastructure, food and energy systems could expose communities to escalating threats from heatwaves, droughts, and extreme rainfall.
On mitigation, the OBR’s July 2025 Fiscal Risk Report revealed that a global warming scenario of 3°C could contract UK GDP by around eight per cent by the early 2070s, while government borrowing could increase by the equivalent of 74% of GDP.
On the flip side, it also warned that shifting to EVs will wipe out nearly £30 billion in annual fuel duty revenues, creating long-term fiscal pressures.
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