House of Commons declares national climate emergency

The bill was put forward by Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna.

Canada's House of Commons has passed a motion declaring a national climate emergency.

The bill passed 186-83 and was put forward by Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna. It describes climate change as a "real and urgent crisis" and aims to further support Canada’s commitment to meeting its Paris Agreement emissions targets.

According to the bill, the house has voted to “declare that Canada is in a national climate emergency" which will require lawmakers to "make deeper reductions in line with the Agreement's objective of holding global warming below two degrees Celsius and pursuing efforts to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius."