Over the weekend, people around the world turned out in huge numbers to protest the burning of fossil fuels. The protests – the largest since before the coronavirus pandemic – were meant to send a strong message to political leaders: “Take climate action now.”
On Friday, tens of thousands of people protested in cities across Germany. In the Netherlands on Saturday, several hundred protesters blocked a major highway – something they’d been doing for over a week. On Sunday, around 75,000 people marched in New York City to demand that world leaders end the use of fossil fuels.
In all, there were protests in about 54 countries, including Austria, England, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Kenya, the Philippines, Senegal, South Korea, and Spain. Many of the protests were led by young people and organized by a group called Fridays for Future.
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Over the weekend, people around the world protested against the burning of fossil fuels. Tens of thousands of people protested in cities across Germany. The protests were meant to send a message to leaders: “Take climate action now.” Above, a protest in Berlin on Friday.
The climate protest movement was largely started by Swedish teenager, Greta Thunberg in 2018. The Friday’s for Future group grew out of her “School Strike for Climate”. Large global climate protests were becoming more and more common, until the coronavirus pandemic led to lockdowns around the world.
Protesters might have been temporarily stopped by the pandemic, but the climate crisis was not. In recent years scientists have warned more and more strongly that world leaders are not taking action quickly enough to avoid the worst effects of the climate crisis.
This weekend’s protests were meant to send a clear signal to political leaders that they must act immediately.
The “March to End Fossil Fuels” in New York was held just before the city’s “Climate Week NYC”. That’s a yearly meeting that brings together people from around the world to discuss ways to limit climate change.
(Source: Fight Fossil Fuels.)
In cities across the US on Sunday, the protests focused on ending the use of fossil fuels. US President Joe Biden has taken strong action to cut pollution and protect the environment. But he has also allowed new fossil fuel projects to begin. That has made many people angry.
“Biden, you should be scared of us, if you want our vote,” said Emma Buretta, a 17-year-old who works with Fridays for Future in the US.
The protesters want Mr. Biden to stop allowing new oil and gas projects, and to end the ones currently in place. The marchers also want Mr. Biden to declare a climate emergency.
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The protesters came from a wide range of backgrounds. Though many were students, the crowds also included politicians, scientists, workers, indigenous groups, and actors. The protesters want Mr. Biden to end oil and gas projects, and to declare a climate emergency.
The protesters came from a wide range of backgrounds. Though many were students, the crowds also included politicians, scientists, workers, indigenous groups, and actors. New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez described the climate crisis as, “The biggest issue of our time.”
The US is currently the second largest polluter in the world, behind China. But in all, the US has released more CO2 emissions than any other country.
On Wednesday, United Nations (UN) leader Antonio Guterres, is holding a special UN climate summit in New York. Mr. Guterres has invited leaders from countries that are taking serious action on climate change. Large, polluting countries like the US won’t be invited to speak. Mr. Guterres is hoping to put pressure on these countries to take action.