Jeremy Corbyn Urges Iceland To Declare Climate Emergency

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the British Labour Party, wrote to Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir on Sunday to offer his support and solidarity. He said she showed leadership on the climate crisis, and he applauded her efforts “to win backing for the declaration of a climate emergency, including at next week’s Nordic Council meeting.”

It is unclear what Corbyn meant by this, as Katrín has not taken a public stance on such a declaration. “It’s not enough to make declarations,” she told RÚV, “We need to see concrete action.”

She has not ruled out making such a declaration, but her priority seems to be to face the climate change issue head-on and take action. Corbyn certainly believes in her ability to take action, writing, “I know you share those sentiments, and the urgent responsibility on all of us to recognise that the climate crisis is a global emergency, and to act to bring about a swift and just transition to a net-zero economy.” One would think that taking action would also involve declaring a climate crisis and getting other nations involved in making the transition to a net-zero economy.