POLICE PRAISE 100,000
Marchers thanked as huge city demo sees only 22 arrests
and finished at Glasgow Green, where marchers began to arrive after 3pm.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg had been due to give a speech at the protest but cancelled in order to clear the stage for others, including Vanessa Nakate, to address the crowd.
Asad Rehman, spokesman for organiser Cop26 Coalition, said: ‘Many thousands of people took to the streets on every continent demanding that governments move from climate inaction to climate justice.
‘We won’t tolerate warm words and long-term targets any more, we want action now.’
Clean-up teams from the city council and march organisers were out early yesterday, clearing abandoned placards, bin bags and overflowing bins along the route. By yesterday morning Kelvingrove Park and Glasgow Green were showing little indication that the huge demonstration had taken place. But due to rubbish collectors and street cleaners striking during Cop26, outside businesses and in residential areas, rows of bins could be seen overflowing with lids flung open and leaking bags on the pavements. A city council spokesman said: ‘Both the council and event organisers Cop26 Coalition are responsible for the clean-up operation following the climate march.
‘Striking workers are not involved in the clean-up operation. Glasgow City Council is responsible for emptying street bins, including those on the route of the climate march.
‘Event organisers also have a responsibility for reinstating Glasgow Green.
‘No problem areas were identified, or litter hotspots reported. The city council staff are still providing this cleansing service.’