With the Brexit on hold for a few months, UK lawmakers have some breathing room to deal with other pressing issues - and they approved a motion to declare an environment and climate emergency.

The Climate Emergency measure calls upon the UK government to achieve net-zero emissions before 2050.  It also calls for government officials to come up with proposals on how to fix the UK's natural environment and deliver a "zero waste economy" within the next six months.

"It's too late for tokenistic policies or gimmicks. We have to do more than just ban plastic straws. Individual action is not enough. We need a collective response which empowers people instead of just shaming them if they don’t buy expensive recycled toilet paper or drive the newest Toyota Prius," said Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who put the motion forward and hoped to inspire other nations: "This can set off a wave of action from parliaments and governments around the globe."

Mr. Corbyn also noted the enthusiasm for such a measure from young people, including teenage Swedish activist Greta Thunberg whom he met with last week.  Ms. Thunberg has emerged as a major force in green demonstrations throughout Europe.

"They grasp the threat to their own future.  And in fact they want to be taught more about it as part of their curriculum," Corbyn said, "Are we content to hand down a broken planet to our children?  That is the question members must ask themselves today.  We have the chance to act before it's too late.  It's a chance that won’t be available to succeeding generations.  It is our historic duty to take it."