Portsmouth Labour Party Standing up for you and our city
Shadow Environment Secretary Sue Hayman has challenged the Government to declare an environment and climate emergency.
Announcement follows wave of similar council motions, including Portsmouth, and youth climate school strikes nationwide.
Michael Gove refused to join Labour’s call. Labour says our natural world is in “deep crisis”
Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary this week declared a national climate and environment emergency in the House of Commons and challenged Michael Gove to do the same. Labour’s announcement follows a wave of motions passed by local councils declaring a climate emergency and a call to action to prevent a dangerous rise in global temperatures by radically transforming our economy.
‘Climate Emergency’ is an internationally recognised declaration being used around the world to publicly declare concern over the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) findings. The IPCC’s recent Special Report, describes the enormous harm that a 2°C rise in global temperatures would cause.
Last week it was revealed that the UK will miss almost all its 2020 nature targets, with 14 out of 19 biodiversity targets currently not being met by the government.
Shadow Environment Secretary, Sue Hayman MP, who visited Portsmouth earlier this year to hear how climate change is having an impact on the city and its sea defences scheme, said:
“The time for soundbites, photo ops and endless consultations from Michael Gove has to end. If he really wants to tackle climate change, why isn’t he or Theresa May addressing the issue by meeting to discuss solutions with the young people striking against climate change? The Leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, has already agreed to a meeting.
Labour is calling for the House of Commons to declare an environment and climate emergency. Species decline, habitat destruction and climate change are progressing at an alarming rate under this government, risking our food supply, landscapes, infrastructure, and public health.
We need urgent action to prevent and reverse ecological catastrophe. A Labour government will kick-start a Green Industrial Revolution, with investment in clean transport and energy creating hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country. And we will bring forward a fully-resourced plan for nature to restore and enhance our natural world.”
Stephen Morgan MP, Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South said:
“I am really proud that a Labour-led motion at Full Council last week declared a climate emergency in Portsmouth. I’m now proud that my party has followed suit nationally in the House of Commons this week.
Even if every individual takes steps to limit their carbon footprint, the planet will continue to warm at a dangerous pace.
If we are to seriously consider any realistic chance of keeping global temperature below the limit of 1.5 or 2 degrees and sea levels from rising, we need radical action from the government. It’s clear that our environment isn’t safe in Tory hands.
Austerity has had a serious impact on our natural world, with vital agencies such as Natural England having their budgets slashed in half and staff morale at an all-time low.
We need political leadership to change our laws, taxation and infrastructure. The UK, along with the rest of the world is facing a serious environmental and climate crisis. But this government has stuck its head so far in the sand that children in Portsmouth are taking to the streets to protest. “