UK-WIDE CLIMATE EMERGENCY

That this House notes the stark warning from the world’s scientific community that there are just 12 years left to prevent 1.5 degrees warming; further notes that warming beyond 1.5 degrees represents a threat to the future of humanity, and that even warming limited to that level will wreak havoc upon the livelihoods of countless people across the world; acknowledges that the world is now experiencing a climate emergency and that an urgent and rapid global response is now necessary; welcomes the fact that solutions to the climate crisis are widely available including renewable technology, sustainable transport options and zero-carbon buildings; supports the decisions by more than 40 local authorities to pass motions declaring a climate emergency and setting net zero carbon emissions targets for their local areas; and calls on the Government to declare a climate emergency and to release the necessary funding, including to local authorities, to enact a green new deal that would rapidly decarbonise the entire UK economy.