UK’s symbolic ‘climate emergency’

Britain’s parliament has declared a symbolic climate change ‘emergency’, backing Jeremy Corbyn’s ­call for ‘rapid action’.

British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says MPs should listen to those ‘who have the most to lose’. Picture: AP

Britain’s parliament has declared a symbolic climate change “emergency”, backing a call by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn­ for “rapid and dramatic action” to protect the environment for generations to come.

The measure was passed in the House of Commons as an oppos­ition motion late on Wednesday, using a procedure typically ignored by the ruling party, and has no direct consequences for policy.

But the non-binding vote is a nod to an increasing vocal activist movement, particularly among young people in Europe, who have staged school strikes and civil disobedience campaigns to demand action.

Eleven days of protests by the Extinction Rebellion activist group caused major disruptions in central London in recent weeks, and Swedish schoolgirl campaign­er Greta Thunberg addressed MPs on a high-profile visit.

Mr Corbyn told MPs they should listen to those “who have the most to lose” from climate change, saying the younger generation was “ahead of the politicians on this, the most important issue of our time”. “We have no time to waste. We are living in a climate crisis that will spiral dangerously out of control unless we take rapid and dramatic action now,” Mr Corbyn told the Commons.

“Today, we have the opportunity to say, ‘We hear you’ … By becoming the first parliament in the world to declare a climate emergency, we could, and I hope we do, set off a wave of action from parliaments and governments all around the world.”

Environment Secretary Mich­ael Gove, who met activists this week, disappointed the campaigners by avoiding the word “emergency” and referring instead to the situation as “grave”.

Extinction Rebellion welcomed Wednesday’s motion in a tweet: “This has seen (MPs) start to #TellTheTruth about the climate & ecological crisis. They must now halt biodiversity loss, go net #Zero­Carbon2025 & create a #CitizensAssembly.”

Separately, 16-year-old activist Greta tweeted: “Historic and very hopeful news. Now other nations must follow. And words must turn into immediate action.”

Rebecca Newsom, head of politics for Greenpeace UK, said tackling climate change had long been delayed. “The best time to declare a climate emergency was 30 years ago; the second best time is now.”

Britain’s top advisory body on climate change is set to recommend that the government reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, in a move that would help Britain reclaim its global leadership on the environment.

The independent Committee on Climate Change is expected to conclude in a report to be released this week that the 30-year target is viable and cost-effective, a source says.

Reuters, AFP