Davies slams vote on climate change

Chris Davies

A North West Euro-MP has slammed the European Parliament for refusing to accept that population growth is a major factor in climate change.

Euro-MPs in Strasbourg voted against including any reference to the fact that human numbers have trebled over the past 50 years — and continue to increase by more than 100,000 every day — in a key report on global warming.

The decision was described as a victory for “religious dogma” by Liberal Democrat Chris Davies, who tabled the proposal.

He said: “This is a dark day for truth. For Europe’s parliament to refuse to accept that population growth is one of the most significant explanations for global warming is akin to Creationists defeating the science of Darwin.”

In a speech to the Parliament, he had called for greater support for women to take control over their own fertility, with free contraception and comprehensive reproductive education and advice for all.

He also claims that religious opposition to contraception is self defeating when it comes to the subject of abortion, as the most effective way of reducing abortions is to improve access to contraception.

Davies said that medical services needed to be improved so that women in developing nations could safely delay having their first child.

He wants governments everywhere to set targets for optimum population levels.

He added: “Rates of world population growth are unprecedented, creating growing demand that is unsustainable.

“This issue should be at the forefront of debate about climate change.

To dismiss it for reasons of religious dogma is akin to ostriches burying their heads in sand.”