Member

I must get on to climate change, because it is an important issue. If climate and nature are not at the heart of this Bill, we risk failing to build a railway that is resilient to a changing climate and an increase in extreme weather conditions. It is not just about resilience; it is also about ensuring that every decision we make helps to deliver our climate and nature targets. New clause 7 would establish a statutory rail climate resilience and decarbonisation framework and require, alongside scheduled infrastructure improvements, the identification of sections of the network that are vulnerable to drought, soil moisture deficit, flooding, heat and cold. Working with new clauses 8 and 41, it would force the Government and Great British Railways to give proper consideration to climate and nature. I hope the Government will give consideration to our amendments and new clauses.