IN PHOTOS: Thousands throng Glasgow streets for climate justice

Thousands took to the streets in Glasgow, United Kingdom, November 5, 2021 in a Global Day of Action against climate change in the backdrop of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (CoP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). They protested against the ‘inaction’ of governments at the Summit. Photo: Jayanta Basu

Climate activist Greta Thunberg, who joined the protest, told the crowds:“We don’t need any more distant non-binding promises ... they have had decades of blah blah blah and where has that left us?”

She called the conference “a global north greenwash festival” and “a two-week long celebration of business as usual.” “Many are starting to ask themselves, what will it take for the people in power to wake up? But let's be clear: they are already wake. They know exactly what they are doing,” she said.

The activists who participated in the protest criticised the Summit as “greenwash and dystopian” and called to halt governments’ interests in fossil fuel and coal ties.

Several young activists urged more radical commitments, as the United Nations warned that the world is not adapting fast enough to the climate crisis.

Among highlights from the conference have been the United States and Canada (and 18 other nations) agreeing to stop fossil fuel financing by the end of 2022. At least 23 countries said they will phase out coal power in 2030s or 2040s depending on size, including Indonesia, Vietnam, Poland and Ukraine.