The UK Energy and Net Zero Secretary has won the support of NGOs and environmental organisations across the country after taking a firm stance against climate and science-deniers while delivering a passionate case for climate action in his first annual statement to parliament on the worsening impacts of global warming.

Referencing the latest State of the UK Climate report from the Met Office, Ed Miliband laid out the “uncomfortable and sobering facts” of the increasingly unstable climate we now face. He told MPs how extreme heat and heavy rainfall are already happening more frequently because of climate breakdown brought on by fossil fuel emissions.

The Secretary took the chance to call out the anti-climate and anti-science rhetoric being peddled by those in both the Conservative and Reform parties; the former has abandoned the net zero by 2050 target (a row-back on the sentiments first brought forward by the former Conservative leader, Theresa May) while the latter has started to question the impacts of human-induced climate change altogether.

Ami McCarthy, head of politics at Greenpeace UK, said: “Miliband is right to call out the breathless nonsense spouted by opportunistic political leaders like Farage and Trump who deny climate change as they rake in donations from fossil fuel companies. They are fighting against a safe future on this planet in order to continue with business as usual.”

In his statement, the Energy and Net Zero Secretary highlighted how the UK has led global efforts to bring emissions down, including passing the 2008 Climate Change Act, which was then copied around the world while becoming the first country to set legally binding nature targets. 

Talking about how the climate was changing, Miliband, said: “The science is unequivocal about why this is happening. As the Met Office said this morning, this is not a natural variation in our climate.”

Extreme weather has led to some of the worst harvests in recent UK history, the report released yesterday confirmed, Miliband told MPs. Yet, while the UK was a relatively small contributor to emissions, he championed its role as a world leader in the response.

“We remain way off track from where we need to be as a world, but we in this country have helped make a difference,” he said. “The lesson is clear. The choices we make as a country have influenced the cause of global action, and in doing so, reduced the impact of the climate and nature crisis on future generations in Britain.

“To those who say Britain cannot make a difference. I say: you are wrong. Stop talking our country down. British leadership matters.”

While the Secretary’s rousing speech may have galvanised support from NGOs and environmental campaigners across the UK, it now needs to be followed up with actions.

Katie-jo Luxton, the RSPB’s director of conservation, said: “We are pleased to see the UK Government acknowledging that we are in a nature and climate emergency, and that we must tackle both wildlife decline and climate change together.

“The publication of the Environmental Improvement Plan progress report earlier today is a timely reminder of the scale of the challenge and the need for urgent action to halt and reverse wildlife declines. We need all government policy across every department to commit to supporting the UK’s efforts to achieve the goals of the Climate Change Act and Environment Act along with our international commitments.”

Miliband told MPs that the idea of the annual climate and nature statement came from Roz Savage, the Liberal Democrat MP whose climate and nature bill was dropped in exchange for some government concessions last year.

In response to his statement yesterday, Savage, said; “This announcement is a welcome step forward, recognising that DEFRA and DESNZ must work together in true partnership – because we cannot tackle climate breakdown without also restoring nature.

“While the loudest voices in the Conservative and Reform ranks continue to beat the weary old anti-net zero drum, the real story is overwhelming cross-party consensus for urgent, ambitious action. People do not want doom, they want hope – and they want to be part of the solution.

“The best way for ministers to turn this ambition into lasting progress is to embrace the full spirit of the Climate and Nature Bill by turning global promises into domestic law, driving coordinated action, and giving the public a voice. This is not just about nature – it’s about securing our health, our livelihoods, and our national security for generations to come.”

But Miliband will face some tough tests, including decisions on whether to allow the giant North Sea oilfields Rosebank and Jackdaw permission to drill. The pressure will arrive via the chancellor Rachel Reeves who is – reportedly – keen to give the projects the go-ahead in the name of economic growth. The Guardian reminds us, however, that Miliband has previously referred to Rosebank as “climate vandalism”.

Dr Amy McDonnell, co-director of the Zero Hour climate and nature campaign, said: “As he delivers the first in his long-promised statements on climate and nature, the Energy Secretary is right to praise grassroots campaigners for their efforts to highlight the existential threat of the climate and nature crisis.

“Miliband does, however, need to do more than berate his opponents. Even now, his own colleagues are intent – through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and airport expansion – on ripping up environmental and climate protections in pursuit of ruthless economic growth at all costs.

“With hundreds of MPs – and tens of thousands of ordinary people and organisations – backing the Climate and Nature Bill, today shows how important it is to enshrine our climate and nature targets into law to force all Whitehall departments to take this seriously.”

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