SCOTLAND is joining climate alarm protests being held around Europe aimed at reminding governments at the UN COP24 climate conference that they have failed their people with a lukewarm approach to tackling climate change.
Speakers will address a gathering in Edinburgh to tell oil companies, the First Minister and financial institutions that people hold them accountable for their “inaction” to save the planet and the future.
Around 200 countries are in Katowice to work out how to meet targets laid down in the 2015 Paris Agreement.
The first part of the Edinburgh protest will be outside the Usher Hall, opposite oil company Cairn Energy’s headquarters.
Speeches at Charlotte Square will then be addressed to Nicola Sturgeon and the protest will close with performers at St Andrew Square criticising the Royal Bank of Scotland.
The afternoon session will allow demonstrators to leave personal messages to the First Minister and join the European Climate Alarm by making a lot of noise.
READ MORE: Scotland ‘a leader’ on climate action, Sturgeon tells summit
Speakers will include Green MSP Alison Johnstone, a representative from campaign group Extinction Rebellion and climate campaigner Pete Cannel, with drummers from Rhythms of Resistance and environmental carol singing.
Matthew Crighton, a Friends of the Earth activist in Edinburgh, said: “People power will show the Government and business that more can and should be done to bring down climate emissions. This Climate Alarm protest is a wake-up call to them.
“By putting in place the policies that will tackle climate change, we can ensure everyone has a warm home, that transport is cleaner and healthier, and that our farmers are supported to go green.
“There is a huge gap between world leaders’ actions and what is urgently needed.
“Commitments made in the Paris Agreement, even if they were respected, will keep us on a catastrophic path to three degrees of temperature rises.
“Both private investment and government handouts to fossil fuels companies continue to be made at the expense of clean, renewable energy.”
The Climate Alarm movement started in France and it is part of a global campaign dubbed “Rise for Climate”.
Protests in France started last week, and similar protests will be held in Belgium and other parts of Europe.
Organisers of the Edinburgh events say it is an act of solidarity with the rest of the European movement, and also an opportunity to stir the debate about what more Scotland should be doing to maintain the pressure and keep the movement’s momentum going.
Celine Berreux, a student from France, said: “My motivation to launch something in Edinburgh was the desire to bring Scotland into this moment of international mobilisation that coincides with the UN climate conference, in order to send a strong message to our leaders.”
Eva Gallova, a support worker and Friends of the Earth Edinburgh activist, added: “People can no longer pretend that climate change is not happening or it will not affect their lives.
“Those in power whether in politics, business or finance need a wake-up call that their choices to put profit above people are driving us to disaster,” she added.
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