Newsletter Newsletters Events Events Podcasts Videos Africanews
Loader
Advertisement

COP26 latest: Climate protests go global as activists slam summit as 'failure'

Indigenous people from Brazil speak from the stage during a demonstration in Glasgow, Scotland, Friday, Nov. 5, 2021.
Indigenous people from Brazil speak from the stage during a demonstration in Glasgow, Scotland, Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. Copyright  AP Photo
Copyright AP Photo
By Euronews
Published on Updated
Share this article Comments
Share this article Close Button

Today the action does not just unfold in Glasgow but across continents as COP26 climate protests go global. Follow them live on this page.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets all over the world on Saturday to call on world leaders to do more to tackle the climate crisis during COP26. 

The global protests came after tens of thousands of young people rallied in Glasgow on Friday to denounce inaction and greenwashing at the global climate summit. 

Organisers said over 250 events were planned around the world, in addition to a digital global rally.

"We are taking to the streets across the world this weekend to push governments from climate inaction to climate justice," said Asad Rehman, a spokesperson for the COP Coalition.

Follow the climate strikes and other COP26 developments live on our blog:

In case you weren't able to follow along yesterday, here are five key takeaways from the summit's Youth Day.

Here is what you need to know as Day 6 wraps up:

  • For the second consecutive day, a climate march is underway in Glasgow where up to 50,000 people of all ages are expected to show up, according to organisers and police. 
  • Climate protests have already taken place today in Australia and throughout Asia, and are in full swing across Europe. 
  • After youth activist Greta Thunberg labelled COP26 a 'failure' on Friday, some warned it was still too early to rush to judgement about the summit

.

"Activists declaring it dead on arrival makes fossil fuel executives jump for joy," tweeted expert Michael Mann. 

  • Today is Nature Day as the summit turns its focus to issues such as land use and sustainable agriculture. 

  • A coalition of 45 countries pledged "urgent action and investment to protect nature and shift to more sustainable ways of farming," the UK COP26 presidency has said.

  • Developed countries will start making good on their promise of $100 billion (€86 billion) in annual climate aid to developing nations next year. This is a year earlier than most estimates, US climate envoy John Kerry said.

Live ended

'Another world is possible,' activist Vanessa Nakate tells Glasgow protesters 

Speaking from the rally in Glasgow, Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate started by painting a gloomy picture of the devastating impacts of climate change. 
"Droughts and floods have left nothing behind for the people," she told the crowd, with "tens of thousands of people suffering catastrophic levels of food insecurity."
"We must demand that our leaders treat the climate crisis like a crisis," she went on. 
On a more positive note, she said: "We remain hopeful. Another world is possible." 
"The power of the people always wins. We are unstoppable and we're going to heal this land," she concluded. 
Share this article

Indigenous peoples to take centre stage at COP26 event 

A COP26 event is set to highlight "the critical role of indigenous peoples and local communities" in nature and land use plans. 

"This event will explore how governments, scientists and Indigenous Peoples are working with nature to enhance climate ambition and help keep the 1.5C goal within reach, while delivering benefits for biodiversity and for the millions of people who depend on the land and ocean for their livelihoods," organisers have said.


Watch the event live here: 





Share this article

'We are going to have to make tough decisions', says COP26 President

COP26 President Alok Sharma warned at a press conference that "tough decisions" were ahead for the remaining week of the summit. 


"We are getting to the point where the rubber hits the road, where we’re going to have to make tough decisions in terms of texts," he said.


"We will move to negotiations among ministers and I certainly do not underestimate the difficulty of the task which is ahead of us."


With AFP


Share this article

Is COP26 a failure? Not so fast, says expert

Greta Thunberg's comment on Friday that COP26 was a "failure" has grabbed media headlines all over the world.
But others say it's too early to rush to judgement about the multilateral talks. 

"COP26 has barely started," tweeted Michael Mann, director of Penn State's Earth System Science Center. "Activists declaring it dead on arrival makes fossil fuel executives jump for joy."
Share this article

Watch our video: Youth voices at COP26

Share this article

'Words not enough,' says Scottish activist at Glasgow climate march

Thousands of climate protesters braved torrential rain in Glasgow on Saturday to take part in worldwide demonstrations against climate inaction. 

"Our world is under attack, stand up fight back,"they chanted. 

"We're clear that warm words are not good enough -- and that the next week of talks must see a serious ramping up of concrete plans," said Scottish activist Mikaela Loach at the protest. 
Security has been ramped up in Glasgow and many city-centre shops closed for Saturday's march. 
With AFP
Share this article

Parisians rally for climate during COP26

Hundreds of people rallied in front of the Paris City Hall on Saturday to demand "climate justice" and hold world leaders accountable halfway through COP26. 
A large banner saying "inactive at COP26, dying in 2050" was floating on the Olympic rings set up in front of the city hall, with Paris due to host the 2024 Olympic Games. 
More climate protests are planned throughout France. 
Share this article

Environmental group reacts to COP26 announcement on sustainable agriculture

An environmental group welcomed the pledge by 45 countries to shift to sustainable farming but urged more nations to join the coalition. 
"We cannot phase out food, like we can fossil fuels and therefore we welcome the Policy Action Agenda for transition to sustainable food and agriculture," said Joao Campari, Global Food Practise Leader at WWF. 
“Now we need all countries to endorse this action agenda and utilise the action plan,"  he added.
Share this article

READ: ‘Staggering scale’ of climate misinformation on Facebook revealed in new report

‘Staggering scale’ of climate misinformation on Facebook revealed

Activists say Facebook is failing to act on climate misinformation on its platform - and is even benefiting financially from placing climate misinformation on its paid advertising platform.
Share this article

Workers in Poland protest push to end coal use

Trade union members from Poland’s energy sector have protested before the European Union’s office in Warsaw, saying the EU's moves to discourage coal use are responsible for soaring energy prices.


Some 200 power plant and coal mine workers from across Poland blew horns and waved union flags as they chanted. The protest’s motto was “YES for Poland’s Energy Sovereignty. NO to High Energy and Heat Prices.”


Like other EU countries, Poland has pledged to phase out coal use and to develop wind, solar and other renewable energy sources. At the UN climate summit in Glasgow this week, the government said it would not be able to close all coal-fired plants until 2049, a target that disappointed activists.


With AP


Share this article

COP26 climate protest starts in London

In London, protesters have started marching from the Bank of England to Trafalgar Square as the British capital's climate strike gets underway. 
Share this article

45 countries pledge shift to sustainable farming 

A coalition of 45 countries pledged "urgent action and investment to protect nature and shift to more sustainable ways of farming," the UK COP26 presidency has said in a statement as the summit turns its focus to nature and land use this Saturday. 


About one-quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, forestry and other land-use, the statement noted, highlighting the urgency to act for more sustainable food systems.


The pledge includes a commitment to leverage "over US$4bn billion of new public sector investment into agricultural innovation," the UK COP26 presidency said. 



Share this article

Indigenous peoples lack legal rights to over half of their lands: study

As COP26 turns its focus to nature and land use, new research released at COP26 shows that indigenous peoples and local communities "hold at least 958 million hectares of land spanning most of the world’s endangered tropical forests – yet have legal rights to less than half of their lands."
The research was produced by the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI), Woodwell Climate Research Center and the Rainforest Foundation US. 
The study says that failure to recognise indigenous peoples' land rights considerably accelerates carbon emissions through deforestation.

"This data shows what scientists have been saying for years: Indigenous Peoples and local communities must be co-authors, not just participants, in climate and biodiversity solutions,” said Tuntiak Katan, Indigenous Shuar of Ecuador. 


Share this article

Climate march underway in Glasgow 

The Global Climate March is underway in Glasgow. 
Organisers and police said they expected up to 50,000 people to parade through the streets of the Scottish city near the COP26 summit venue, which is under tight security.
Share this article

Australia kicks off global climate marches 

Australia kicked off the first global climate marches this Saturday, halfway through COP26. 
Protesters in Sydney and Melbourne dressed as lumps of coal or Prime Minister Scott Morrison, a vigorous defender of the mining industry, labelled the talks as "a sham" and their national leader "an absolute embarrassment."

"No more blah, blah blah. Real climate action now," read one sign at a protest in Sydney.
With AFP
Share this article

'One day food won't be there' if we don't figure out what to do, warns Elba at COP26 

"One day, we'll go to Sainsbury's or Marks & Spencer and food will not be there,"  if nothing is done, warned British actor Idris Elba at a UN event on sustainable agriculture. 
To those who were wondering why he was taking part in such an event, Elba, who is a UN Goodwill Ambassador, said it was because "this conversation around food is something that needs to be really amplified, and one thing I’ve got is a big mouth."
"The supply chain is going to be damaged if we don't figure out what to do," Elba said, emphasising the role of small scale farmers who produce 80% of the food consumed worldwide.

Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate, 24 told the panel climate change was already causing hunger for millions around the world, including in her own country. 


She said a shift from meat to plant-based diets could help save millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year while freeing up more land that’s currently used for animal feed.


Share this article

Watch live: Actor Idris Elba attends sustainable agriculture event at COP26 

British actor Idris Elba is attending an event on the "importance of investing in small-scale agriculture, climate adaptation and nature-based solutions to achieve sustainable and prosperous food systems."
Model Sabrina Elba is also among the speakers. Both are UN Goodwill Ambassadors.
The event is hosted by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Conservation International. 
Watch the event live here from 12p CET /11pm BST: 
Share this article

Glasgow braces for new climate march 

Police helicopters buzzed over Glasgow early on Saturday as authorities prepared for a second day of protests by climate activists demanding faster action to tackle the climate crisis. 

Despite a little drizzle and strong winds, tens of thousands of people were expected to join a rally through the Scottish city where this year’s UN climate talks are being held.


With AP


Share this article
Will you take part in today's global climate march?
Share this article

Today is Nature Day at COP26 

Today is Nature Day as COP26 turns its focus to issues such as land use and sustainable agriculture. 


A coalition of 45 countries is expected to 'pledge urgent action and investment to protect nature and shift to more sustainable ways of farming,' the UK COP26 presidency has said.


Several other events are planned throughout the day, including this one: 


Share this article

Climate protests go global 

COP26 climate protests go global this Saturday.  

Organisers say over 300 events will take place around the world, in addition to a digital global rally


"We are taking to the streets across the world this weekend to push governments from climate inaction to climate justice," said Asad Rehman, a spokesperson for the COP Coalition. 


Share this article
Good morning and welcome back to our COP26 live blog!
Share this article

Additional sources • AP, AFP

Go to accessibility shortcuts
Share this article Comments

Read more