(Glasgow) Several hundred people gathered in Glasgow on Saturday to urge world leaders to act in favor of the climate, on the eve of COP26, which is crucial for the future of the planet.
Many of them had reached Glasgow after a march of several tens or even thousands of kilometers, kicking off the events organized in parallel with the UN climate conference, scheduled until the 12th. November in the Scottish city.
Coming from Spain, Belgium or Scotland itself, the demonstrators marched through the city center brandishing slogans like “Act now!” “,” Actions not words “or” Stop fossil fuels “, particularly at the call of the group Extinction Rebellion.
“We expect more ambitious measures, that our political leaders are aware of the urgency of the situation because our children, our grandchildren risk living in a much more complicated world, which will undergo serious climatic disturbances”, a entrusted Dirk Van Esbroeck, Belgian retiree of 68 years.
With around twenty other members of the “Grandparents for the Climate” group, he reached Edinburgh by train from Belgium before reaching Glasgow on foot.
“Between declarations and action, there is still a big step to be taken,” added the 60-year-old, who has five children and 12 grandchildren.
More than a hundred leaders, including the American Joe Biden, the French Emmanuel Macron or the Indian Narendra Modi are expected at the summit deemed crucial in the fight against climate change.
Climate activists from around the world will also make the trip. According to the organizers, they will be up to 100,000 during a large demonstration scheduled for Friday.
PHOTO DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS, FRANCE-PRESS AGENCY
According to Scottish Police, some 10,000 officers from across the UK will be deployed each day during COP26.
“We are here to demand climate justice” for the countries of the south, said Becky Stockes, a 31-year-old translator who walked from Spain. The COP26 constitutes “a last chance”, she said, hoping “to see concrete measures”.
For Maciej Walczuk, “there have already been 25 COPs and the climate situation has never been so bad”. The 19-year-old student is hoping for a “different” conference this time around, which “commits to action to save lives”.
According to Scottish police, some 10,000 officers from across the UK will be deployed every day during COP26, which is the largest law enforcement operation ever in Scotland.