Transport Online – Tens of thousands of protesters in Brussels demand rapid climate action
BRUSSELS – Tens of thousands of people gathered in Brussels on Sunday for a climate march. The demonstrators that more action for the climate will be carried out soon. The march focused on the major international climate summit COP26, which will reach Glasgow from October 31 to November 12.
The march, the first climate demonstration in Belgium since the outbreak of the corona pandemic, ended in the afternoon in the Cinquantenaire Park in Brussels. Climate activists and stories of the recent floods in Belgium, among others, gave speeches there.
“We are back and we will not let go,” said Nicolas Van Nuffel of the Belgian Climate Coalition. “We are indebted to the victims of this summer’s disasters, to the bereaved families and survivors of those disasters, and to our children.”
Promises and commitments are no longer enough for the climate movements, continued Van Nuffel. “It has to be faster, harder, more solidarity, more coherent,” he said. “We have no choice. The ceiling is set by science at 1.5 degrees.”
Women from Sarayaku, a region in Ecuador, also spoke. Their territory of 135,000 hectares is under threat from the government, which is mining oil and logging there. They also called for mobilization “for the planet, for life”.
Finally, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg addressed the attendees by video. “I am so grateful for everyone who showed up. This is what democracy is all about. And we stand together in solidarity with the people and regions hardest hit by the climate crisis,” she said. “If we work together, we can achieve anything.”
The climate march was organized by the Climate Coalition, in which environmental movements, trade unions and youth organizations have united, among others. Also political political parties, including Groen, Ecolo, PS, Vooruit and PVDA, and agricultural organizations include their supporters to take part in the march.
According to the police, almost 25,000 protesters were involved, but according to the organizers of the march, there were at least 70,000 people. The stewards die the bet together in good 50,000n with the win on it.