As a direct result of Greta Thunberg’s school strike movement, the Scottish government is the first government in the world to declare a climate emergency.
“As First Minister of Scotland, I am declaring that there is a climate emergency. And Scotland will live up to our responsibility to tackle it.”
Nicola Sturgeon’s climate emergency statement starts at 24:00 minutes in the Facebook video
“Our obligations to the next generation are the most important that we carry. A few weeks ago, I met some of the young climate change campaigners who’ve gone on strike from school to raise awareness of their cause. They want governments around the world to declare a climate emergency. They say that’s what the science tells us. And they are right.
So today, as First Minister of Scotland, I am declaring that there is a climate emergency. And Scotland will live up to our responsibility to tackle it.
[Standing ovation]
We are already a world leader, and our new legislation commits us to being carbon neutral by 2050. It contains some of the toughest targets in the world. But many are urging us to do more and go further.
I am listening.
Later this week, the Committee on Climate Change will publish new scientific advice on Scotland’s targets.
So I am making this public promise to the young people I met, and to their entire generation. If that advice says we can go further or go faster, we will do so. Scotland will lead by example.
Friends, that commitment to future generations has been the hallmark of your SNP government.”
~ Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party
→ BBC News – 28 April 2019:
Nicola Sturgeon declares ‘climate emergency’ at SNP conference
“Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has declared a “climate emergency” in her speech to the SNP conference.”
→ Common Dreams – 28 April 2019:
The Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’ Movement Grows as Scotland Joins
“Also, UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn launched a bid to declare a climate emergency in the United Kingdom.”
→ The Guardian – 29 April 2019:
Nicola Sturgeon says world is facing a climate emergency
“SNP leader tells party members she will speed up efforts to achieve zero carbon emissions.”
Retweet:
United Kingdom: Labour MPs to declare an environment and climate emergency
“Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn praised Extinction Rebellion’s actions in London as “the inspiring climate activism we’ve seen in recent weeks” and said it was a “massive and necessary wake-up call for rapid and dramatic action”. He also said he hoped other countries would follow suit in declaring an emergency.”
Podcast interview on spreaker.com
The British Labour party’s shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey was interviewed by Sky News about why Labour will declare a national climate and environmental emergency.
→ Sky News – 28 April 2019:
It’s not all about Brexit: Climate emergency and election challenges
Commons vote on the issue
“MPs will vote on Wednesday whether to declare an environmental and climate emergency following mass protests over political inaction in addressing the crisis. Labour will force a Commons vote on the issue, one of the key demands of the Extinction Rebellion (XR) movement, whose activists paralysed parts of London in previous weeks. Jeremy Corbyn said he hoped other countries would follow if the UK Parliament became the first in the world to declare a climate emergency…”
→ UK Daily Mail – 28 April 2019:
Jeremy Corbyn forces MPs to vote on declaring climate emergency after Extinction Rebellion protests over political inaction
“Labour’s motion has been bolstered by endorsement of activist Greta Thunberg. Acknowledging a full-blown crisis is one of Extinction Rebellion’s core demands. Comes after a ten-day London rally which saw over 1,000 protesters arrested. They glued themselves to trains, office buildings and Jeremy Corbyn’s house.”
→ Mirror – 27 April 2019:
Labour wants UK to be first country in the world to declare climate emergency
“Labour MPs to trigger a green industrial revolution when they declare an environment and climate emergency in the Commons.”
→ The Guardian – 28 April 2019:
Corbyn launches bid to declare a national climate emergency
“Labour will attempt to force Commons vote as it is revealed that the government has failed to spend anti-pollution cash.”
Wales: Second government to declare a climate emergency
Oxford: Citizens’ Assembly to oversee climate emergency
Oxford City Council has not only declared a climate emergency since January 2019, but taken things to the next step and become the first local government body in the UK to set up a Citizens’ Assembly to oversee it.
→ Oxford City Council – 23 April 2019:
Oxford City Council to establish UK’s first citizens assembly to address climate emergency
“Oxford City Council is to be the first UK local authority to establish a citizens assembly to help address the issue of climate change, and consider the measures that should be taken in Oxford.”
→ The Independent – 1 May 2019:
What is a ‘climate emergency’ – and what are MPs voting on today?
“Theresa May must put the country and politicians on a “war footing” to avert the disasters of climate change, the former Labour leader Ed Miliband has declared as MP’s gear up to vote on whether to declare a ‘climate emergency’.”