A massive demonstration planned by environmental activists for the eve of this month’s United Nations climate summit in Paris is in doubt as organisers weigh the security risks – and the propriety – of gathering in huge numbers in a city where attacks killed at least 129 people.
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“The feeling is we should go on with business as usual, because you can’t give in to these terrorists”.
Jordan’s foreign minister, Nasser Judeh, said the Paris attack “reaffirms our collective commitment” to fight terror and extremism wherever it may occur, while European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said no one could turn away from the common threat.
The Islamic State group has claimed it was behind the attacks, which Hollande says was an “act of war”.
According to the Wall Street Journal, France had planned to reinstate border controls during the conference as a security measure, something they have now already done in response to Friday’s attacks.
Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore was due to host the 24-hour live webcast from the foot of the Eiffel Tower to drum up attention for this month’s worldwide climate summit in Paris. “There might be certain others who will be afraid that these marches would be a target, though I would doubt it because there’s not really a precedent”.
“There might be certain people who, like with Charlie Hebdo, choose to come to make a statement on this”, Wendel Trio, director of Climate Action Network Europe told Politico.
Top world leaders including India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, USA president Barack Obama, Chinese president Xi Jinping and German chancellor Angela Merkel, will participate in the inaugurals of the summit which is expected to sign a global climate deal after 11 days of final round of negotiations on December 11.
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Organisers had hoped the turnout would rival a peaceful march for action on climate action in NY previous year that activists estimated drew 310,000 people.
