BARNSLEY East MP Stephanie Peacock has backed the Labour Party’s declaration of a ‘national climate and environment emergency’.

The decision was taken by the party in the House of Commons, following a wave of motions passed by local councils declaring a climate emergency and calls to tackle increasing global temperatures.

The ‘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 two-degree Celsius 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.

“Species decline, habitat destruction and climate change are progressing at an alarming rate, risking livelihoods, food supply, landscapes, infrastructure, and public health,” said Stephanie.

“It’s absolutely vital we address this threat now with urgent action.

“But rather than the radical action required, austerity has had a serious impact on our natural world.

“ Labour will kick-start a green industrial revolution, and invest in clean transport and energy that will help create hundreds of thousands of jobs.”