Generation Greta take over streets
THOUSANDS of young green protesters took to the streets of Glasgow yesterday in a march inspired by teenage eco warrior Greta Thunberg.
The Swedish activist slammed world leaders as “naked emperors” as she addressed the crowd during the COP26 climate change summit.
Ms Thunberg, who at just 18 has become the most famous green activist in the world, told the rally that the climate talks had become a two-week celebration of “business as usual and blah, blah, blah”.
The campaigner said: “The voices of future generations are drowning in their greenwash and empty words and promises. But the facts do not lie. And we know that our emperors are naked.”
Mr Thunberg demanded “immediate, drastic, annual emission cuts unlike anything the world has ever seen” to tackle climate change.
COP26 is seeking to keep temperature rises to no more than 1.5C.
Before the conference, the UN said the world was on course for a dangerous 2.7C. But studies taking into account pledges made in Glasgow suggest warming could be limited to 1.8C. But Ms Thunberg said: “Some people say that we are being too radical. But the truth is that they are the ones who are radical. Fighting to save our life support systems isn’t radical at all.
“Believing that our civilisation as we know it can survive a 2.7C or a 3C hotter world, on the other hand, is not only extremely radical, it’s pure madness.
“The people in power can continue to live in their bubble filled with their fantasies, like eternal growth on a finite planet and technological solutions that will suddenly appear seemingly out of nowhere and will erase all of these crises just like that.
“All this while the world is literally burning, on fire, and while the people living on the front lines are still bearing the brunt of the climate crisis.”
Ms Thunberg addressed a crowd of thousands of young protesters in Glasgow’s George Square after a noisy march across the city from Kelvingrove Park.
The march, organised by campaign group Fridays For Future Scotland, included large numbers of youngsters who had skipped school to protest.
She was joined by eco-activists from around the word, including Vanessa Nakate, 24, from Uganda.
Ms Nakate told the crowd: “Once again we are faced with another COP event. How many more of these should they hold until they realise that their inactions are destroying the planet?
“Historically, Africa is responsible
for only three per cent of global emissions. And yet Africans are suffering some of the most brutal impacts fuelled by the climate crisis.”
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi suggested youngsters taking part could face fines, and urged them to protest outside school time. He said: “I wish they were doing it on a Saturday and a Sunday, not in school time.
“I’d hate to get into a situation where headteachers are having to fine families and students.”
He spoke out after announcing plans to put climate change “at the heart of education” by including it in the national curriculum from 2023. Mr Zahawi said: “We want to deliver a safer, greener world for future generations of young people and education is one of our key weapons in the fight against climate change.”
Tens of thousands are expected at another demonstration in Glasgow today, coinciding with marches and
protests in cities around the world.A poll of 20,000 people from 27 countries found that fewer than 30 per cent of people worldwide are confident that governments are leading climate action.
The Daily Express is helping fight climate change with our Green Britain Needs You campaign.