The European Parliament has voted to declare a climate emergency.
The resolution - which was passed by 429 votes, with 225 votes against - calls on the European Commission and member states to take action.
@Europarl_EN declares #ClimateEmergency! MEPs urge the Commission to fully ensure all relevant legislative and budgetary proposals are fully aligned with 1.5 °C target
The resolution was adopted with 429 votes to 225. 19 abstentions. pic.twitter.com/lTa4MhDEXl— ENVI Committee Press (@EP_Environment) November 28, 2019
It also directly references the broader international context - including Donald Trump's decision to pull the US out of the Paris climate deal.
Irish Green Party MEP Grace O'Sullivan welcomed the result.
She added: "Thankfully, unhelpful amendments pushing nuclear energy were not moved."
BREAKING: The European Parliament has just voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion declaring a #ClimateEmergency pic.twitter.com/RKqmgBVPy6
— Grace O'Sullivan MEP (@GraceOSllvn) November 28, 2019
Pascal Canfin, chair of the environment committee of the European Parliament, said the vote means MEPs are "meeting the expectations of European citizens".
Environmental group Greenpeace, however, said such declarations "are good only if they lead to real action".
The group said: "We need Europe to set climate targets to cut emissions by 2030 in line with science NOW."
The vote precedes next month's United Nations climate conference, COP25.
Today's vote also comes a day after MEPs approved the new European Commission, led by Germany's Ursula von der Leyen.
The incoming Commission president has pledged to propose a European Green Deal within her first 100 days in office.
She told MEPs yesterday: "We do not have a moment to waste on fighting climate change. The faster Europe moves, the greater the advantage will be for our citizens, our competitiveness and our prosperity.
"The European Green Deal is a must for the health of our planet and our people – and for our economy."
She also pledged that Irish commissioner Phil Hogan "will ensure that our future trade agreements include a chapter on sustainable development".
Ms von der Leyen's new team will take over from Jean-Claude Juncker's Commission on 1st December.
Ireland is among the countries to have already declared a climate emergency.
