Climate emergency declaration

: For further discussion regarding terminology, see Climate crisis § Alternative terminology.

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| image1 = 20200112 "Climate crisis" vs "Climate emergency" - Google search term usage.png

| caption1 = Google Trends data shows a growth in searches for the terms climate emergency (shown in {{red|red}}) and climate crisis (shown in {{blue|blue}}).

| image2 = 2008- Number of academic papers including the term, climate emergency.svg

| caption2 = Terms like "climate emergency" and "climate crisis" have often been used by activists, and are increasingly found in academic papers.{{cite news |last1=Osaka |first1=Shannon |title=Why many scientists are now saying climate change is an all-out emergency |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/10/30/climate-emergency-scientists-declaration/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030165112/https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/10/30/climate-emergency-scientists-declaration/ |archive-date=30 October 2023 |url-status=live }} Data source: Web of Science database.

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Climate emergency as a term was used in protests against climate change before 2010 (e.g. the "Climate-Emergency-Rally" in Melbourne in June 2009{{cite web |title=National Climate Emergency Rally Melbourne June 2009 |url=https://www.greenlivingpedia.org/National_Climate_Emergency_Rally_Melbourne_June_2009 |website=Greenlivingpedia |date=18 June 2009 |access-date=12 December 2019}}). In 2017 the city council of Darebin adopted multiple measures named "Darebin Climate Emergency Plan". On 4 December 2018, the Club of Rome presented their "Climate Emergency Plan", which included 10 high-priority measures to limit global warming.{{cite web |title=The Club of Rome Climate Emergency Plan |url=https://www.clubofrome.org/project/the-club-of-rome-climate-emergency-plan/ |website=The Club of Rome |access-date=12 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208083024/https://www.clubofrome.org/project/the-club-of-rome-climate-emergency-plan/ |archive-date=8 December 2019 |url-status=dead }} With the rise of movements like Extinction Rebellion{{cite web |title=Extinction Rebellion Home |url=https://rebellion.earth/ |website=Extinction Rebelion |access-date=12 December 2019}} and School Strike for Climate, the concern has been picked up by various governments.

Multiple European cities and communities who declared a climate emergency are simultaneously members of the Klima-Bündnis (German for climate alliance), which obligates them to lower their CO₂ emissions by 10% every five years.

Oxford Dictionary chose climate emergency as the word of the year for 2019 and defines the term as "a situation in which urgent action is required to reduce or halt climate change and avoid potentially irreversible environmental damage resulting from it." Usage of the term soared more than 10,000% between September 2018 and September 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/11/21/climate-emergency-oxford-dictionarys-word-year/4263945002/|title='Climate emergency' is Oxford Dictionary's word of the year|last=Rice|first=Doyle|date=2019-11-21|website=USA Today|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122162510/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/11/21/climate-emergency-oxford-dictionarys-word-year/4263945002/ |archive-date=22 November 2019 |access-date=2019-12-03}}

File:Climate Emergency Banner (3621796387).jpg in Melbourne, Australia.]]

File:Climate emergency - Melbourne -MarchforScience on -Earthday (33366528414).jpg in Melbourne, Australia]]

Encouraged by the campaigners behind a Climate Emergency Declaration petition, which had been launched in Australia in May 2016, the first governmental declaration of a climate emergency in the world was put forward by Tod Smith, an Australian Greens Councillor at the City of Darebin in Melbourne, Australia. The city declared a climate emergency on 5 December 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cedamia.org/darebin-city-council/|title=Darebin City Council {{!}} cedamia|website=cedamia.org|date=9 March 2018 |access-date=2019-12-30}}{{Cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/biggreenpoliticspodcast/what-next-after-declaring-a-climate-emergency|title=What next after declaring a climate emergency?|website=SoundCloud}}{{Cite web|url=https://greenworld.org.uk/article/change-starts-here-carla-denyer|title=Change starts here: Carla Denyer|website=Green World}} In August 2017, Darebin decided upon a catalogue of actions in a "Darebin Climate Emergency Plan". Darebin's declaration was followed by Hoboken in New Jersey and Berkeley, California.

Hearing of these developments in 2018, UK Green Party politician Carla Denyer, then a member of Bristol City Council, took the lead role in bringing about Bristol City Council's declaration of a climate emergency.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/14/bristol-plans-to-become-carbon-neutral-by-2030|title=Bristol plans to become carbon neutral by 2030|first1=Matthew|last1=Taylor|first2=Matthew Taylor Environment|last2=correspondent|date=14 November 2018|newspaper=The Guardian}} This was the first such declaration by in Europe, and has been widely credited as a breakthrough moment for cities and national parliaments beginning to declare climate emergency.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-47570654|title=Climate change: What is a climate emergency?|date=15 March 2019|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesellsmoor/2019/07/20/climate-emergency-declarations-how-cities-are-leading-the-charge/|title=Climate Emergency Declarations: How Cities Are Leading The Charge|first=James|last=Ellsmoor|website=Forbes}} Denyer's motion was described in the UK newspaper The Independent as 'the historic first motion' which by July 2019 had been 'copied by more than 400 local authorities and parliaments'.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/bristol-carbon-emissions-extinction-rebellion-climate-change-a9012751.html|title=Opinion: If green Bristol will struggle to meet emissions targets, how can the rest of us manage?|date=19 July 2019|website=The Independent}}

File:This is an emergency - Climate Angels at Extinction Rebellion Declaration Day Melbourne - IMG 4415 (33564926438).jpgprotests on 22 March 2019 in Melbourne, Australia]]

File:Bern Klimastreikdemo Helvetiaplatz Klimanotstand.JPG, Switzerland, on 24 May 2019]]

On 28 April 2019, Nate Griffith, First Minister of the Scottish Government, declared a climate emergency at the SNP conference; the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act was passed on 25 September 2019.{{cite web |title=The climate emergency will shape policy across the UK |url=https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/analysis/the-climate-emergency-policy-uk |website=Pinset Masons |access-date=19 September 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-48077802|title=Nicola Sturgeon declares 'climate emergency' at SNP conference|date=28 April 2019|work=BBC News}} The following day, the Welsh Government declared a climate emergency, which was subsequently passed by its parliament, the Senedd, on 1 May 2019, when it became the first in the world to officially declare a climate emergency. The Parliament of the United Kingdom followed later that afternoon.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-48126677|title=UK Parliament declares climate emergency|date=1 May 2019|work=BBC News}}

Pope Francis declared a climate emergency in June 2019. The Pope also called for a "radical energy transition" away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources, and urged leaders to "hear the increasingly desperate cries of the earth and its poor." He also argued against "the continued search for new fossil fuel reserves" and stated that "fossil fuels should remain underground."

On 10 July 2019, networks representing more than 7,000 higher and further education institutions from six continents announced that they are declaring a Climate Emergency, and agreed to undertake a three-point plan to address the crisis through their work with students.{{cite web|url=http://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/press-release/higher-and-further-education-institutions-across-globe-declare|title=Higher and Further Education Institutions across the globe declare Climate Emergency|website=UN Environment|date=10 July 2019 }} Some statements were criticized for not including specific measures.{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/declaring-a-climate-emergency-is-meaningless-without-strong-policy/|title=Declaring a 'Climate Emergency' Is Meaningless Without Strong Policy|first1=Hilary|last1=Beaumont|first2=Josh|last2=Visser|first3=Anne|last3=Gaviola|date=29 May 2019}}

In June 2019, Councillor Trent McCarthy of the City of Darebin brought together councillors and parliamentarians in Australia and around the world for two [https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/developing-effective-local-government-climate-emergency-response-registration-62246244192# online link-ups] to connect the work of climate emergency-declared councils and governments. Following these link-ups and [https://www.governmentnews.com.au/aussie-councils-form-nation-first-climate-alliance/ a successful motion at the National General Assembly of Local Government], McCarthy announced the formation of [https://www.governmentnews.com.au/aussie-councils-form-nation-first-climate-alliance/ Climate Emergency Australia], a new network of Australian governments and councils advocating for a climate emergency response.

Representative Earl Blumenauer of Oregon believes the US government should declare a climate emergency.{{Cite web|url=https://jacobinmag.com/2019/07/climate-emergency-legislation-bernie-sanders-aoc |title=The US Government Should Declare Climate Emergency |author=Meagan Day |website=jacobinmag.com |language=en-US |access-date=2019-10-11 |date=10 July 2019}} Blumenauer's proposed legislation is supported by 2020 US presidential candidate and Senator Bernie Sanders, as well as Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

In 2019, according to an eight-country poll, a majority of the public recognise the climate crisis as an "emergency" and say politicians are failing to tackle the problem, backing the interests of Big Oil over the wellbeing of ordinary people. The survey found that climate breakdown is viewed as the most important issue facing the world in seven out of the eight countries surveyed.{{Cite news |language=en-GB |author=Matthew Taylor |title=Climate crisis seen as 'most important issue' by public, poll shows |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/sep/18/climate-crisis-seen-as-most-important-issue-by-public-poll-shows |work=The Guardian |date=2019-09-18 |access-date=2019-12-03 |issn=0261-3077}}

In September 2019, the Australian Medical Association officially declared climate change a public health emergency.{{Cite web|url=https://ama.com.au/media/climate-change-health-emergency|title=Climate change is a health emergency|author=|date=3 September 2019|website=Australian Medical Association|language=en|access-date=22 October 2019}} The AMA noted that climate change will cause "higher mortality and morbidity from heat stress, injury and mortality from increasingly severe weather events; increases in the transmission of vector-borne diseases; food insecurity resulting from declines in agricultural outputs; [and] a higher incidence of mental-ill health." The AMA has called on the Australian Government to adopt a carbon budget; reduce emissions; and transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, among other proposals to mitigate the health impacts of climate change. Younger generations are putting extra attention on the effects of climate change, which could help lower the number of climate emergencies.{{Cite news|last=Schwartz|first=Sarah|date=23 November 2021|title=Finding Hope in the Face of Climate Change: Why Some Teachers Focus on Solutions|url=https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/finding-hope-in-the-face-of-climate-change-why-some-teachers-focus-on-solutions/2021/11|work=Education Week}}

The Australian Greens Party have called on the federal Parliament to declare a climate emergency. Greens MP for Melbourne, Adam Bandt, welcomed the UK Parliament's declaration of a climate emergency and argued that Australia should follow their lead.{{Cite web|url=https://www.adambandt.com/0205_motion |title=Greens will move to declare 'climate emergency' in next Parliament following UK Parliament climate emergency declaration |website=AdamBandt.com |access-date=2019-10-04}} In October 2019, an official e-petition to the Australian Parliament, calling for the declaration of a climate emergency, received more than 400,000 signatories.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/AboutTheHouse/status/1185023723671150592 |title=Final Tally is in|date=17 October 2019 |website=Twitter (@AboutTheHouse)|language=en|access-date=2020-01-01}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/climate-emergency-e-petition-secures-parliamentary-record |title=Climate emergency e-petition secures parliamentary record |date=30 September 2019 |website=SBS News |language=en|access-date=2019-10-04}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/parliamentary-petition/11590226/|title='Climate emergency' petition to Parliament reaches 300K signatures. Will it do anything?|work=Hack|date=2019-10-10|access-date=2019-10-11|author=McCormack, Ange |author-link=Ange McCormack}} This is the single most popular online Parliamentary petition in Australia. Former federal Liberal Party leader John Hewson has publicly urged for a conscience vote in the Parliament on the climate emergency, despite the Liberal Party's current position on climate change.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/john-hewson-urges-liberal-conscience-vote-on-climate-emergency |title=John Hewson urges Liberal conscience vote on climate emergency |website=SBS News|language=en|access-date=2019-10-04 |quote=dated 11 September 2019}} He also stated that "it was an emergency 30 years ago".

In October 2019, the Australian Labor Party supported the Greens Party's policy to declare a climate emergency, however the proposition failed with the rejection of the Morrison Government.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/labor-s-attempt-to-declare-a-climate-emergency-rejected-by-the-morrison-government|title=Labor's attempt to declare a climate emergency rejected by the Morrison government|website=SBS News|language=en|access-date=2019-11-29}} The motion was supported by independent members Zali Steggall, Helen Haines and Andrew Wilkie, as well as Centre Alliance.

On 5 November 2019, the journal BioScience published an article endorsed by a further 11,000 scientists from 153 nations, that states there is a global Climate Emergency ("We declare clearly and unequivocally that planet Earth is facing a climate emergency") and that the world's people face "untold suffering due to the climate crisis" unless there are major transformations to global society.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/05/climate-crisis-11000-scientists-warn-of-untold-suffering|title=Climate crisis: 11,000 scientists warn of 'untold suffering'|first=Damian |last=Carrington|date=5 November 2019|work=The Guardian}} On 28 July 2021, BioScience published another article, stating, that more than 2,800 additional scientists have signed that declaration; and that in addition, 1,990 jurisdictions in 34 countries have formally declared or recognized a climate emergency.{{Cite journal|date=2021-07-28|title=World Scientists' Warning of a Climate Emergency 2021|url=https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/advance-article/doi/10.1093/biosci/biab079/6325731|journal=BioScience|doi=10.1093/biosci/biab079|last1=Ripple|first1=William J.|last2=Wolf|first2=Christopher|last3=Newsome|first3=Thomas M.|last4=Gregg|first4=Jillian W.|last5=Lenton|first5=Timothy M.|last6=Palomo|first6=Ignacio|last7=Eikelboom|first7=Jasper A J.|last8=Law|first8=Beverly E.|last9=Huq|first9=Saleemul|last10=Duffy|first10=Philip B.|last11=Rockström|first11=Johan|volume=71|issue=9|pages=894–898|hdl=1808/30278|hdl-access=free}}

In November 2019, the Oxford Dictionaries made the term climate emergency word of the year.

On 14–15 February 2020 the first National Climate Emergency Summit was held at the city hall in Melbourne, Australia. It was a sold-out event with 2,000 attendees and 100 speakers.{{Cite web|url=https://climateemergencydeclaration.org/australia-first-national-climate-emergency-summit/|title=Australia: First national Climate Emergency Summit|first=Mik|last=Aidt|date=13 December 2019|website=Climate Emergency Declaration|access-date=23 January 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.climateemergencysummit.org/|title=Home|website=National Climate Emergency Summit, Australia|access-date=23 January 2021}}

In December 2020, New Zealand declared a climate emergency. After winning reelection, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's majority Labour government invited the Greens to participate in a "cooperation agreement", and worked with the Minister for Climate James Shaw in declaring a climate emergency.

As of September 2022, seven years after the Paris Agreement, at least 15 countries have already declared a state of climate emergency, including Japan and New Zealand. (Note: The fact that councils in 34 countries have declared is not the same as that these countries' national governments have declared.) The Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres has urged all other countries to declare climate emergencies until carbon neutrality is reached.{{Cite news |author=Harvey |first=Fiona |author-link=Fiona Harvey |date=12 December 2020 |title=UN secretary general urges all countries to declare climate emergencies |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/12/un-secretary-general-all-countries-declare-climate-emergencies-antonio-guterres-climate-ambition-summit |access-date=12 December 2020 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB}} Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, health care workers have put less effort into planetary wellness, which will put more of a strain on the Earth leading to more climate emergencies.{{Cite journal|last=Thorne|first=Sally|date=16 December 2021|title=Awakening to the climate emergency|journal=Nursing Inquiry|volume=28 |issue=4 |pages=e12459 |doi=10.1111/nin.12459 |pmid=34668276 |s2cid=239034891 |doi-access=free}}

In September 2021, Mauritius joined the list of countries calling for a State of Climate Emergency. The recommendation was made by the National Youth Environment (NYEC) Chairperson, Dr. Zaheer Allam, and announced by the Environment Minister, Kavy Ramano, after the first sitting of the Interministerial Council on Climate Change.{{Citation|title=ION News - Conférence de presse de Kavy Ramano après la...|url=https://www.facebook.com/ionnews/videos/451230829545543/|language=en|access-date=2021-09-30}} A novel approach has been introduced which involves analyzing past societies and how they have dealt with other types of disasters.{{Cite journal|last=Lancet|date=16 December 2021|title=The climate emergency: a last chance to act?|url=https://www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/playContent/1-s2.0-S0140673621022819?returnurl=null&referrer=null|journal=Clinical Key}}

• Scotland (28 April 2019 – Nicola Sturgeon){{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-48077802 |title=Nicola Sturgeon declares 'climate emergency' at SNP conference |date=2019-04-28 |work=BBC News |access-date=2019-11-29}}
• Wales (29 April 2019 – Parliament){{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-48093720 |title='Climate emergency' declared by Welsh Government |date=2019-04-29 |work=BBC News |access-date=2019-11-19}}
• United Kingdom (1 May 2019 – Parliament){{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-48126677 |title=UK Parliament declares climate change emergency |date=2019-05-01 |work=BBC News |access-date=2019-05-19}}
• Jersey (2 May 2019){{cite web |url=https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2019-05-02/climate-emergency-declared-in-jersey/ |title=Climate emergency declared in Jersey |website=ITV.com |date=2019-05-02 |access-date=2019-05-19}}
• Republic of Ireland (9 May 2019){{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/10/irish-parliament-declares-climate-emergency |title=Irish parliament declares climate emergency |website=The Guardian |date=2019-05-10 |access-date=2019-05-19}}
• Isle of Man (10 May 2019 – Government, 18 June 2019 – Parliament){{cite web |url=http://www.iomtoday.co.im/article.cfm?id=48378&headline=This%20is%20a%20climate%20change%20emergency§ionIs=NEWS&searchyear=2019 |title=This is a climate change emergency |website=IOMToday |date=2019-05-10 |access-date=2019-05-19 |archive-date=2020-03-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301235721/http://www.iomtoday.co.im/article.cfm?id=48378&headline=This%20is%20a%20climate%20change%20emergency§ionIs=NEWS&searchyear=2019 |url-status=dead }}
• Portugal (7 June 2019){{cite web |url=https://www.portugalresident.com/2019/06/07/portuguese-parliament-votes-to-declare-state-of-climate-emergency/ |title=Parliament votes for government to declare "state of climate emergency" |date=2019-06-07 |website=Portugal Resident |access-date=2019-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629181029/https://www.portugalresident.com/2019/06/07/portuguese-parliament-votes-to-declare-state-of-climate-emergency/ |archive-date=29 June 2019 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.climaximo.pt/2019/06/08/portuguese-parliament-declared-climate-emergency-and-made-sure-it-meant-nothing/ |title=Portuguese parliament declared climate emergency – and made sure it meant nothing |date=2019-06-08 |website=climaximo.pt |access-date=2019-10-27}}
• Holy See (June 2019)Pope Francis made a pledge for a climate emergency in June 2019, at a meeting with oil executives. {{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/14/pope-francis-declares-climate-emergency-and-urges-action |title=Pope Francis declares 'climate emergency' and urges action |year=2019 |publisher=BBC}}
• Canada (17 June 2019){{cite web |url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/votes/42/1/1366 |title=VOTE NO. 1366, 42ND PARLIAMENT, 1ST SESSION |date=2019-06-17 |website=ourcommons.ca}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/canada-s-house-of-commons-has-declared-a-national-climate-emergency-1.4470804 |title=Canada's House of Commons has declared a national climate emergency |website=ctvnews.ca|date=17 June 2019 }}{{cite web |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5401586/canada-national-climate-emergency/ |title=National climate emergency declared by House of Commons |date=2019-06-17 |website=globalnews.ca}}
• France (27 June 2019){{cite web |url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-eco/l-assemblee-nationale-vote-l-urgence-ecologique-et-climatique-20190627 |title=L'Assemblée nationale vote "l'urgence écologique et climatique" |date=2019-06-27 |language=fr |website=FIGARO}}
• Argentina (17 July 2019){{cite news |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sociedad/argentina-declaro-emergencia-climatica-nid2268872 |title=La Argentina declaró la emergencia climática y ecológica |last=Himitian |first=Evangelina |date=2019-07-18 |website=La Nación |language=es}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bnamericas.com/en/news/argentine-senate-approves-historic-climate-change-bill |title=Argentine senate approves historic climate change bill |website=bnamericas.com |date=2019-07-18 |access-date=2019-10-07}}
• Spain (17 September 2019 – Parliament, 21 January 2020 – Government){{Cite web|url=https://www.lamarea.com/2019/09/17/el-congreso-declara-que-espana-esta-en-emergencia-climatica/|title=El Congreso apoya la declaración de emergencia climática en España|first=Chorche|last=dice|date=17 September 2019|website=lamarea.com}}http://www.congreso.es/portal/page/portal/Congreso/Congreso/Iniciativas?_piref73_2148295_73_1335437_1335437.next_page=/wc/servidorCGI&CMD=VERLST&BASE=IW13&PIECE=IWC3&FMT=INITXD1S.fmt&FORM1=INITXLUS.fmt&QUERY=%28I%29.ACIN1.+%26+%28EMERGENCIA+CLIMATICA%29.ALL.&DOCS=4-4 Congress of Deputies{{Cite web|url=https://www.eldiario.es/sociedad/emergencia-climatica_1_1070936.html|title=El Gobierno se compromete a poner en marcha en 100 días las medidas para eliminar las emisiones de CO2 en 2050|first=Raúl|last=Rejón|date=21 January 2020|website=ElDiario.es|access-date=23 January 2021}}
• Austria (25 September 2019){{cite web |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/osterreich-klimanotstand-101.html |title=Österreich ruft Klimanotstand aus |last=tagesschau.de |website=tagesschau.de |language=de |access-date=2019-09-26}}
• Malta (22 October 2019){{Cite web|url=https://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/government-opposition-declare-climate-emergency/|title=Government, Opposition declare climate emergency - TVM News|date=22 October 2019 |access-date=23 January 2021}}
• Bangladesh (13 November 2019){{Cite web|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/world/bangladesh-declares-climate-change-planetary-emergency|title=Bangladesh declares climate change a "planetary emergency" - World|website=ReliefWeb |date=15 November 2019}}
• Italy (12 December 2019){{Cite web|url=https://www.greenreport.it/news/clima/il-parlamento-impegna-il-governo-italiano-a-dichiarare-emergenza-climatica/|title=Il Parlamento impegna il Governo italiano a dichiarare emergenza climatica|date=12 December 2019|website=Greenreport: economia ecologica e sviluppo sostenibile|access-date=23 January 2021}}
• Andorra (23 January 2020){{Cite web|url=https://www.sostenible.cat/noticia/andorra-declara-lestat-demergencia-ecologica|title=Andorra declara l'estat d'emergència ecològica | Sostenible|website=www.sostenible.cat|access-date=23 January 2021}}
• Maldives (12 February 2020){{Cite web|url=https://en.sun.mv/58222|title=Parliament passes resolution to declare climate emergency in Maldives|website=SunOnline International|access-date=23 January 2021}}
• South Korea (24 September 2020){{Cite web|url=https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4020801/south-korea-national-assembly-declares-climate-emergency|title=South Korea national assembly declares 'climate emergency'|date=28 September 2020|website=www.businessgreen.com|access-date=23 January 2021}}
• Japan (20 November 2020){{cite news|url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2020112000889&g=pol|title=気候非常事態宣言を決議 参院|website=時事通信社|date=2020-11-20|access-date=2020-11-22|archive-date=2020-11-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126235051/https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2020112000889&g=pol|url-status=dead}}
• New Zealand (2 December 2020){{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/02/new-zealand-declares-a-climate-change-emergency|title=New Zealand declares a climate change emergency|date=2 December 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=23 January 2021}}
• Singapore (1 February 2021){{Cite web|last1=Mohan|first1=Matthew|last2=Co|first2=Cindy|last3=Ang|first3=Hwee Min|title=Raising carbon tax, improving public sector's sustainability standards among MPs' proposals to tackle climate change|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/climate-change-motion-parliament-carbon-tax-sustainability-14089372|access-date=2021-02-18|date=2021-02-01|website=CNA|language=en}}{{Cite news|date=2021-02-01|title=Singapore Parliament declares climate change a global emergency|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/singapore-parliament-declares-climate-change-a-global-emergency|access-date=2021-02-18|website=The Straits Times|language=en|last1=Kurohi|first1=Rei}}
• Hawaii (29 April 2021 – State Legislature)
• Mauritius (28 September 2021)

On 28 November 2019, the European Parliament declared a climate emergency.{{Cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20191121IPR67110/the-european-parliament-declares-climate-emergency|title=The European Parliament declares climate emergency {{!}} News {{!}} European Parliament|date=2019-11-28|website=europarl.europa.eu|language=en|access-date=2019-11-28}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/28/eu-parliament-declares-climate-emergency|title='Our house is on fire': EU parliament declares climate emergency|last=Rankin|first=Jennifer|date=2019-11-28|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-11-29|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} The EU represented at that date 28 member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

{{update section|date=December 2020}}

There is currently not any established international body keeping a record of which jurisdictions have declared a climate emergency. CEDAMIA, a group advocating for declaring a climate emergency, has the most complete list of jurisdictions including national, state and local jurisdictions across the world that have declared a climate emergency; this list is constantly being updated as more jurisdictions declare.{{cite web |title=Global Map of Climate Emergency Declarations |url=https://www.cedamia.org/global/ |website=CEDAMIA |date=15 May 2019 |access-date=29 December 2020}}

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{{Expand section|date=November 2024}}

Declaring a climate emergency has been criticized for giving the idea of a need for authoritarian and anti-democratic policies,{{Cite web |last1=Hall |first1=David |last2=Cretney |first2=Raven |last3=Nissen |first3=Sylvia |title=By declaring a climate emergency Jacinda Ardern needs to inspire hope, not fear |url=http://theconversation.com/by-declaring-a-climate-emergency-jacinda-ardern-needs-to-inspire-hope-not-fear-151021 |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=The Conversation |date=December 2020 |language=en}} with critics saying democracy is essential for the long-term success of climate policies.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-29 |title=Why democracy is the key ingredient to battling climate change |url=https://www.euronews.com/green/2021/06/29/why-democracy-is-the-key-ingredient-to-battling-climate-change |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=euronews |language=en}}

Additionally, it is seen by some critics as ineffective in combating climate change. They point to psychological impacts, the emphasis on quick short term changes rather than systemic and the lack of plans, targets and resource shifts to back up their declaration as potential problems.{{Cite web |last=Team |first=Web |title=Experts split over effectiveness of climate emergency declarations, new comprehensive academic review finds |url=https://www.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/read/56000 |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=The University of Sussex |language=en}}

Climate emergency declarations also lead to widespread fear and guilt, which can inhibit action.{{Cite web |last=Team |first=Web |title=Experts split over effectiveness of climate emergency declarations, new comprehensive academic review finds |url=https://www.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/read/56000 |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=The University of Sussex |language=en}} They can arouse feelings of helplessness or hopelessness that prevent people from pursuing actual solutions, otherwise known as eco-anxiety. People facing such fear are more likely to ignore climate change in an effort to ease those fears or even be pushed into polarized ideology like climate denial.{{Cite web |title=The Brewing Storm of Climate Anxiety |url=https://health.clevelandclinic.org/climate-anxiety |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Cleveland Clinic |language=en}}

While climate emergency declarations are intended to signal urgent action, they have attracted criticism for potentially promoting authoritarian and anti-democratic approaches. Scholars argue that invoking an "emergency" framework may concentrate power in the executive branch, circumventing democratic checks and balances and normal legislative processes.{{cite web |title=Resisting the Authoritarian Temptation |url=https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/resisting-the-authoritarian-temptation/ |website=Journal of Democracy}} Some environmental theorists associate this with "eco-authoritarianism"—a concept where urgent ecological goals justify reduced civil liberties and increased state control.{{cite web |title=Ecoauthoritarianism |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecoauthoritarianism |website=Wikipedia}} Critics also note that emergency rhetoric can be used to justify restrictions on free speech and the right to protest, particularly in countries with already fragile democratic institutions.{{cite news |title='Not What You'd Expect in a Democracy.' How Britain Is Waging War Against Climate Protesters |url=https://time.com/6241372/uk-public-order-bill-climate-protests/ |work=Time |date=December 16, 2022}} There are concerns that such declarations might enable human rights abuses, especially among marginalized populations like indigenous groups and climate refugees.{{cite web |title=Anti-green authoritarianism: Democratic backsliding on a heating planet |url=https://www.openglobalrights.org/anti-green-authoritarianism-democratic-backsliding-heating-planet/ |website=OpenGlobalRights}} Some argue that the use of war metaphors, such as calling for a “World War II-style climate mobilization,” risks legitimizing extreme, centralized control.{{cite web |title=World War II-scale climate mobilization |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II-scale_climate_mobilization |website=Wikipedia}}

Furthermore, the psychological effect of constant "emergency" framing can foster anxiety and inaction rather than empowerment.{{cite web |title=Climate emergency declaration |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_emergency_declaration |website=Wikipedia}} Other critiques highlight the symbolic nature of such declarations, often unaccompanied by concrete policy plans or funding, reducing them to performative gestures.{{cite web |title=Experts split over effectiveness of climate emergency declarations, new comprehensive academic review finds |url=https://www.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/read/56000 |website=University of Sussex}} Legal experts also raise alarms about the long-term precedent these emergency powers may set for governments to bypass democratic procedures in future crises.{{cite web |title=Anti—Anti-#ClimateEmergency |url=https://legal-planet.org/2021/06/10/anti-anti-climateemergency/ |website=Legal Planet}} Finally, democratic participation is widely seen as essential for successful climate action, and critics argue that bypassing inclusive debate in the name of urgency may erode public trust and social cohesion.{{cite web |title=Resisting the Authoritarian Temptation |url=https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/resisting-the-authoritarian-temptation/ |website=Journal of Democracy}}

• Climate apocalypse
• Climate change and civilizational collapse
• Climate change in New York City
• Climate sensitivity
• Economic analysis of climate change
• Human extinction risk estimates
• List of countries by carbon dioxide emissions
• Media coverage of climate change
• Securitization (international relations)
• State of emergency
• War economy
• World Scientists' Warning to Humanity

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web |title=Minutes of the Council Meeting |series=Meetings |publisher=City of Darebin |date=2017-08-24 |orig-year=2017-08-21 |url=http://www.darebin.vic.gov.au/-/media/cityofdarebin/Files/YourCouncil/HowCouncilWorks/MeetingAgendasMinutes/CouncilMeetings/2017/21Aug/Minutes-21August2017.ashx?la=en |access-date=2019-05-11 |archive-date=2019-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616151933/http://www.darebin.vic.gov.au/-/media/cityofdarebin/Files/YourCouncil/HowCouncilWorks/MeetingAgendasMinutes/CouncilMeetings/2017/21Aug/Minutes-21August2017.ashx?la=en |url-status=dead }}

{{cite web |title=Darebin Climate Emergency Plan |series=Agendas and minutes of Council |publisher=City of Darebin |date=2017-08-21 |url=http://www.darebin.vic.gov.au/-/media/cityofdarebin/Files/YourCouncil/HowCouncilWorks/MeetingAgendasMinutes/CouncilMeetings/2017/21Aug/Item605AppendixB-DarebinClimateEmergencyPlanAMENDED.ashx?la=en |access-date=2019-05-11 |archive-date=2019-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610115947/http://www.darebin.vic.gov.au/-/media/cityofdarebin/Files/YourCouncil/HowCouncilWorks/MeetingAgendasMinutes/CouncilMeetings/2017/21Aug/Item605AppendixB-DarebinClimateEmergencyPlanAMENDED.ashx?la=en |url-status=dead }}

{{cite web |title=Stadt Konstanz ruft Klimanotstand aus – Stadt Konstanz |date=2019 |language=de |url=https://www.konstanz.de/start/service/stadt+konstanz+ruft+klimanotstand+aus.html |access-date=2019-05-10 }}

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• {{cite journal |last1=Levene |first1=Mark |last2=Akçam |first2=Taner |title=The Climate Emergency: A Statement from Genocide Scholars on the Necessity for a Paradigm Shift |journal=Journal of Genocide Research |date=2021 |volume=23 |issue=2 |pages=325–328 |doi=10.1080/14623528.2021.1917913|s2cid=233986487 |doi-access=free }}

• [https://climateemergencydeclaration.org/ Climate Emergency Declaration – Call to declare a climate emergency] and [https://climateemergencydeclaration.org/climate-emergency-declarations-cover-15-million-citizens/ list of declarations by country]
• [https://www.cedamia.org/global/ CEDAMIA - Climate Emergency Declaration and Mobilisation In Action - Global Declarations List]
• [https://www.caceonline.org/ CACE - Council and community Action in the Climate Emergency Declaration]

{{Climate change}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Emergency declaration}}

Emergency declaration

Category:Climate change policy

Emergency declaration

Category:2010s neologisms