SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has called on the British government to take the lead in uniting governments throughout the world in the transition to a fair and green economy – not least by slashing greenhouse gas emissions at home and in the process creating jobs and opportunities for people and businesses in Northern Ireland.

Mr Durkan was speaking after attending the Tropical Forests Need You event to highlight the importance of climate action in the UK ahead of the Rio+20 Earth Summit in Brazil later this month (20-22 June).

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The event was part of the 'Rio Connection', a coordinated campaign to mark twenty years since the original Rio Earth Summit in 1992.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) invited MPs and Peers along to the event to show the importance of saving tropical forests globally.

Mr Durkan said: "I'm delighted to support the call for greater action in the 'Rio-UK Declaration'.

"This declaration states that the government should be at the forefront of the transition to a global green economy: delivering on the commitments in the 2008 Climate Change Act whilst pushing for a stronger EU emissions target, and helping the world’s poorest communities adapt to the effects of climate change, invest in getting clean energy to all people, and protect rainforests.

"This is not only good for the environment but also for our economy."

(CD)