Friends of the Earth joined the Global Day of Action to demonstrate people power and demand climate and social justice to world leaders meeting at the COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Saturday 6th of November saw an incredible day of mobilization for climate justice. Almost 150.000 people marched through Glasgow in the biggest ever mobilisation for climate justice in the United Kingdom. More than 300 demonstrations took place across Europe and around the world calling for system change now!
In the halls of the COP26
Sara Shaw, Climate justice and energy programme coordinator for Friends of the Earth International, reflected on the progress of COP26 so far:
“There have been lots of fine words and polished speeches at COP26. While this week’s wave of announcements and pledges might sound superficially good, they are missing details and targets are often far in the future. We need action to cut emissions now. Rich countries are busy pursuing unproven techno-fixes and dodgy carbon offsetting schemes that cause great harm to frontline communities, and big polluters are still stalking the conference halls peddling these scams.”
Justice won’t be handed to us by world leaders or delivered by corporations. Only through collective action, solidarity and coordination, through transformative solutions from local communities and international levels can we #UprootTheSystem.
The era of injustice is over
Key demands by COP26 Coalition, organisers of the event, highly resonate with Friends of the Earth’s campaigns: a rewired, just and sustainable world in which societies have said no to fossil fuels and false solutions, and where the North is repaying their climate debt through reparations and financial support to indigenous communities and the Global South.
People power
The Global Day of Action brought together movements from across the world to build power for system change – from indigenous struggles to trade union, from racial justice groups to youth strikers.
Sara Shows anticipated:
“The vibrant actions on the street will be in stark contrast to the inertia inside the halls of the COP.”
And they definitely were! Check out Friends of the Earth International’s Flickr account to see colorful snippets of the march in Glasgow and across the United Kingdom.
Youth, leading the way on climate
The day before, on Friday 5th of November, thousands of young activists had already gathered and walked the streets of Glasgow for the Climate Strike, demanding a system reset to address the climate crisis.
Sofija Getova, young activist from Kolektiv 7 / Young Friends of the Earth Macedonia, said:
“We demand a radical system change. We demand a system reset. We want to transform our societies so all living beings live in harmony with nature and their eco-systems.”
Sara Mariza Vryonidi from Young Friends of the Earth Cyprus continued:
“Decisions are made without our consent, the consent of young people. The minute we realise the power of our consent, that very minute, things start changing.”
Of course, they also answered the call on Saturday! Have a read at one of our latest interview with two activists from Young Friends of the Earth Europe to find out more about their vision for Europe.
A radical transformation of our energy, food and economic systems is the only way to prevent global warming exceeding the 1.5 degrees target agreed upon in the Climate Paris Agreement and to ensure the MAPA (Most Affected People and Areas)’s future and present. Real solutions to the climate crisis do exist. People power is the key to implement them.
