Campaigners demand climate action

● Activists scale Glasgow crane as part of protests across the globe

Climate change activists scaled the Finnieston Crane and hung banners at Glasgow City Chambers as part of worldwide protests.

Members of Extinction Rebellion Scotland climbed the crane and hung a banner reading “science not silence”, at Pacific Quay yesterday.

Police arrived at the site at about 7am and removed the campaigners, although no arrests were made.

The action is part of an international week of protests calling for governments and councils around the world to declare a climate emergency.

Explaining the reasons for protesting, one Extinction Rebellion member said: “We are just ordinary citizens and we want the council to act responsibly and save us from this accelerating disaster which may lead to serious flooding and food shortages in Scotland and across the world.

“And 27 other UK councils have declared a climate emergency. Why hasn’t Glasgow?”

Daryl Tayar, another member of Extinction Rebellion, added: “I’m sure Robert Burns would’ve been happy to wear such a symbol - his poetry shows just how much he loved the environment and of course how radical his politics were.

“He said it himself: ‘I’m truly sorry man’s dominion has broken nature’s social union’.

“If he were alive today, he’d be asking the city council to declare a climate emergency urgently.” Glasgow City Councillor Anna Richardson said: “There can be no doubt that Glasgow, along with the rest of the world, is facing a climate emergency.

“The enormous challenge created by climate change is exactly why the council has set up a working group and asked for recommendations on the way forward. I have already made the commitment that I will act on these recommenin dations. Members of Extinction Rebellion are part of our Climate Emergency Working Group. This gives them a real opportunity to contribute constructively to the debate on carbon reduction and influence what Glasgow does in the face of a global threat.

“Unfortunately, after their previous protest, precious time, money and resources were wasted when staff had to remove 80 metres of graffiti which had been daubed on Activists protest in Parliament Square in London, left, while members of Extinction Rebellion Scotland scale the Finnieston Crane in Glasgow yesterday roads and pavements outside the city chambers.”

Scottish Greens climate spokesman Mark Ruskell MSP said: “It’s great to see citizen action highlighting the threat posed by climate breakdown.

“Unfortunately, every other party voted against our proposal to declare a climate emergency last month in the Scottish Parliament.

“Only the Greens are willing to take the necessary action to tackle the climate crisis.”

London environmental protesters blocked some of the city’s busiest roads and vandalised Shell’s headquarters.

Thousands of people gathered at five central London locations in a bid to bring the city to a standstill.

Some activists glued themselves to windows and smashed glass revolving doors at Shell’s HQ near Waterloo, while others climbed the building to spray graffiti and hang banners.