Extinction Rebellion threatens city protests

CLIMATE activists have warned of protests over concerns that Birmingham’s carbon neutral target could be pushed back.

The Extinction Rebellion (XR) group believes “the ground is being laid” for Birmingham City Council to relax its 2030 date given as part of its declaration of a climate emergency.

The group said it intended to start city protests this month.

Previous XR protests have been theatrical in nature including the scaling of City Hall in Bristol.

At a recent meeting of Birmingham’s Route To Zero task force, councillors were offered the option of agreeing alternative targets to solely the 2030 date. The UK has a target of 2050.

XR spokesperson Charlie Ansell, 22, a recent University of Birmingham graduate, said: “We are extremely disappointed to hear councillors laying the groundwork to walk back from their 2030 net zero commitment.

“As far as we are concerned, it is a question of when not if they push the date back. So we will be stepping up our activity in the city centre over the coming months, encouraging councillors to stick to their guns and push to transform Birmingham into the green urban leader it has the potential to become.” A spokesperson for Birmingham City Council said: “Whilst the challenges of achieving the 2030 date are recognised, we are still committed to achieving net zero carbon as soon as possible and in advance of the national target of 2050 and the regional target of 2041 set by the West Midlands Combined Authority.”