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Tories on course to miss ‘net zero’ carbon emissions target by 49 years, Labour warns

Corbyn tells May at PMQs her government has treated ‘the climate emergency like a PR exercise’

JEREMY CORBYN revealed new analysis by Labour today that shows the government is set to woefully miss its climate targets by almost 50 years.

The Labour leader highlighted the research that warned if progress continues at its current rate, the government target of reaching “net zero” carbon emissions by 2050 will not be met until 2099.

This could result in increased flooding and wildfires, more pollution and extreme heat, food shortages from agricultural disruption and loss of animal habitats, Labour said.

Mr Corbyn said: “This government has spent too long treating the climate emergency like a PR exercise, setting out targets it knows full well it isn’t on track to meet.

“We’re already seeing the catastrophic impact of climate change, from wildfires in Yorkshire to flooding in Wales.

“If this government doesn’t change course now it will be the next generation that pays the price — not to mention the millions of people already at risk in the Global South.

“The climate emergency cannot be left to the market.

“Labour takes the climate crisis seriously, we got Parliament to declare a climate emergency, and in office we will kick start a green industrial revolution to safeguard our future and transform our economy.”

Prime Minister Theresa May claimed that she wants action on climate change — but Mr Corbyn retorted that she still supports fracking and has banned onshore wind farms.

The government’s own committee on climate change last week slammed environmental efforts as “being run like Dad’s Army.”

Just one of the government’s 25 emissions-cutting policies has been delivered, according to the watchdog’s report, and carbon emissions fell by only 1.5 per cent last year — less than half the 3.2 per cent drop in 2017.

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