A WHARFEDALE MP has visited the Arctic Circle to see for himself the impact of global warming.

Alex Sobel (Lab, Leeds North West) travelled with the Environmental Audit Committee to Tromsø and Svalbard, in northern Norway, where climate change is having a dramatic effect.

Mr Sobel, who has made environmental issues one of his top priorities since being elected, saw at first hand how ice erosion is causing a loss of marine life and wildlife.

Tromsø City Council welcomed the MP and the committee to discuss plans for increased sustainable development and a plastic free campaign for the city.

The campaign aims to build further on the Norwegian Deposit Return Scheme which Mr Sobel has encouraged the UK Parliament to consider, as well as a coffee cup levy and free water refills.

The Environmental Audit Committee also agreed to support a drive to ban the dumping of copper tailings into the sea, which harms marine life.

Mr Sobel said: "It is important that the UK is able to play a great role in preventing the destruction happening within the Arctic Circle.

"High levels of plastic pollution found in the sea, the use of heavy fuel oil, and the huge emissions caused by tourism and the cruising industry can all be reduced by the UK Government taking responsibility for environmental degradation happening outside of our borders.

"The trip was invaluable and of the upmost importance for us tackling these issues to see the detrimental effect they are having already.

"Just because we cannot see the direct effects along our coasts it doesn’t mean it is not happening.

"Hopefully being able to share this important information about environmental degradation on the Arctic Circle will motivate the UK Government to act urgently."

The impact of tourism and large scale cruises were a main talking point for the visitors.

Hurtigruten, a cruise company which is 80 per cent UK owned, hosted Mr Sobel and the committee to discuss its plans for hybrid ships, banning single use plastics and reducing the use of Heavy Fuel Oils.