Tens of thousands of people gathered in the British capital on Saturday for a large demonstration of mobilization against climate change, far from the group’s traditional methods of civil disobedience.
The Green Party has reiterated its call for a rapid transition away from fossil fuels ahead of four days of peaceful protests that have gathered climate activists in Parliament Square as the deadline for government action to end all new fossil fuel projects was reached.
The Green Party sees a vote for the Greens in the local elections next month as a vote for climate action. This is why the Greens have unanimously reiterated their call for a rapid transition away from fossil fuels.
The weekend was supported by more than 200 organisations, including Extinction Rebellion, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace, as well as the Christian Climate Coalition, with thousands of people gathering for Earth Day in London on Saturday.
Several high-profile Greens spoke during the four days of action, which ran from Friday April 21 to Monday April 24, organized by Extinction Rebellion with the support of numerous environmental charities and community groups and prominent civil society.
The Green Party said it shares the event organizers’ goal of moving beyond fossil fuels.
“Our climate is collapsing and nature is in free fall. Those in power should take decisive action now. The fact that they don’t is why events like these – and the election of Greens at all levels of government – are so important,” said Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay.
He said the Green Party shares the positive and ambitious vision of those joining this event, but the Greens still make it clear that their course of action passes through electoral politics.
“We share their main demand that we get serious about transitioning away from fossil fuels. We also share the frustration at a government failing to quickly move us to net zero and instead take us in the wrong direction by granting permission for a new coal mine, giving a green light to more oil drilling in the North Sea and investing billions in new roads,” said Adrian Ramsay.
Activists set an ultimatum to the government expiring Monday, 5 p.m., to meet their demands. Among them: that the government “tell the truth about the climate emergency, that it create a citizens’ assembly on the climate, like the one set up in France in 2019, and put an end to the exploitation of hydrocarbons” . In 2021, the UK authorized new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. The following year, Liz Truss, short-lived Prime Minister, lifted the moratorium on shale gas exploitation to deal with the crisis and thus become a net energy exporter by 2040.
Activists have given the government an ultimatum expired Monday, 5 p.m., to accede to their demands. Among them: that the government “tell the truth about the climate emergency, that it create a citizens’ assembly on the climate, like the one set up in France in 2019, and put an end to the exploitation of hydrocarbons”. In 2021, the UK authorized new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. The following year, Liz Truss, ephemeral Prime Minister, lifted the moratorium on shale gas exploitation to deal with the crisis and thus become a net energy exporter by 2040.
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