The fifth day of COP26, Friday November 5, is dedicated to youth. She took the opportunity to give voice: thousands of young people beat the pavement in Glasgow (Scotland, United Kingdom), from Kelvingrove Park to George Square, a few hundred yards from the buildings housing the international climate conference negotiations. The call was made by the Fridays For Future movement and activists Greta Thunberg and Vanessa Nakate.
“- What do we want?
– Climate justice
– When do we want it?
– Now “, shouts the crowd #FridaysForFuture # COP26 pic.twitter.com/aWGTsW36f9– Camille Adaoust (@CamilleAd) November 5, 2021
After the march organized by Extinction Rebellion on Wednesday 3 November, more than 8,000 people were expected to keep up the pressure on international negotiators, gathered in the Scottish city. At the rendezvous in Kelvingrove Park, many young Scots. Yvonne also came with Cass, her 12 year old daughter. “It’s essential to be there, says the mother. The future is tomorrow for her! “
Yvonne came to the march #FridaysForFuture with his daughter Cass. “It’s essential to be there. The future is tomorrow for her!” She crosses “her fingers, her arms, everything!” for the success of the # COP26 pic.twitter.com/UAelgbKiXW
– Camille Adaoust (@CamilleAd) November 5, 2021
Activists from around the world also made the trip, like Regina. This 20-year-old Mexican came to denounce the inertia of political leaders: “[Ils] do not take action. But the climate crisis is already here. “ Like many, she claims a “climate justice”, because the first victims of environmental degradation do not necessarily have the means to be heard: “In my country, indigenous people are dying because of ‘extractivism’ [l’exploitation massive des ressources naturelles]. “
Regina, 20, is from Mexico. “Our leaders are not taking action. But the climate crisis is already here. In my country, indigenous peoples are dying because of extractivism,” she laments. #FridaysForFurure # COP26 pic.twitter.com/de9ARDLHhO
– Camille Adaoust (@CamilleAd) November 5, 2021
Many feel that their voice does not reach politicians, like Persephone, a young Scottish woman: “I’m so sick of leaders who don’t listen to us. We have to fix their mess!” They had already expressed their concerns at their own climate conference, the Youth Conference (COY). The World Youth Declaration (in English), published Friday November 5 and signed by more than 40,000 people, therefore claims that “youth are actively and meaningfully included in all decision-making processes on climate change”.
The organizers were delighted with the scale of the event. “There has been so little change in the fight against climate change for four years … We are mobilized near the COP to make our voice heard”, explained Skye-Layla Marriner, a member of the Scottish branch of Fridays for future for four years. His voice is covered by the slogan “The united people will never be defeated!”
Skye-layla Marriner is part of @FFF_Scotland for 4 years. “There has been so little change in the fight against climate change for 4 years …”, she laments. She is delighted to see so many people today making their voices heard from leaders at the # COP26 pic.twitter.com/dToSAB8hJP
– Camille Adaoust (@CamilleAd) November 5, 2021