Part of the goal is to match the peaceful march on climate change that happened in NY in 2014 which, according to activists, drew approximately 310,000 people.
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A highly anticipated United Nations climate conference scheduled to start in Paris in two weeks will go on as planned, though numerous side events, like marches and concerts, will likely be canceled as France tries to balance a “business-as-usual” approach with increased security concerns.
Environmental activists have hoped the marches would attract perhaps 200,000 people to put pressure on governments to cut greenhouse gas emissions. 129 people died, while more than 350 are injured.
Acknowledging the expertise of Pakistan’s Minister for Climate Change, Mr Zahid Hamid, who recently took oath, the French envoy said that Pakistan is one of the countries most affected by climate change.
Against this background it is only sensible that security measures are beefed up and that large organized groups are avoided for the moment. What is sure is that we have the will to keep on building mobilizations.
Nicolas Haeringer, a campaigner with the 350 group, said it will “still find a way for people in Paris to make the call for climate justice heard”.
Top world leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, will participate in the inaugurals of the summit which is expected to conclude with signing a global climate deal after 11 days of final round of negotiations on December 11. We will continue to bring solutions and alternatives to fight against climate change. We’ll show politicians that this is a movement that is here to stay and growing fast.
Poor nations say they need help to finance the costly shift to renewable energy, and to shore up their defences against climate change-induced superstorms, drought and land-gobbling sea level rise.
Indeed they won’t. People from around the world – from villagers fighting deforestation in Peru to people from distant coral atolls in the Pacific that could disappear if the talks aren’t highly successful – are still planning to be in Paris to insist upon action.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And are you anxious that the national leaders, now so much focused, after the awful events of last week, on fighting terrorism, might not be as focused on the issue of the negotiations that occur at the summit?
Japanese climate negotiator Aya Hoshida told AFP: “If we fail…it will be very hard to create the same type of momentum and a sense of urgency to adopt this agreement”.
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The Coalition Climat 21 alliance said a Citizens Climate Summit should be able to proceed on december 5 and 6, as well as a “Climate Action Zone” in a northern Paris cultural centre, due to open for the second week of the talks as a venue for public workshops, meetings and other events.
