The measure was passed as an opposition motion, using a procedure typically ignored by the ruling party, and has no direct consequences for policy. But it represents a nod to an increasing vocal activist movement particularly among young people, who have staged school strikes and civil disobedience campaigns to demand action. Activists from the group Extinction Rebellion launched 11 days of protests that paralysed central London in recent weeks, and Swedish schoolgirl campaigner Greta Thunberg addressed lawmakers on a high profile visit.
In Parliament, Mr Corbyn told lawmakers they should listen to those “who have the most to lose” from climate change.
He described the younger generation as being “ahead of the politicians on this, the most important issue of our time”.
He said: “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.
“Today, we have the opportunity to say, ‘We hear you’.
Jeremy Corbyn welcome the decision to declare a climate change emergency (Image: GETTY)
“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
