Many people from all over the world protested on Friday evening at a mass demonstration in Madrid for more climate protection - but how many were exactly? While the organizers spoke of half a million participants, the National Police figured the number at just 15,000. At first, there was no explanation for this huge discrepancy. According to estimates by the newspaper El Pais, between 25,000 and 35,000 participants were reported.
Spanish media spoke of a "war of numbers". If it had really been 500,000 demonstrators, then it would have been one of the largest climate clashes in the world so far, it said.
500'000 people marched in Madrid last night. This is the beginning of change! The world is slowly waking up to the climate and environmental crisis. Soon the people in power can no longer get away with ignoring the science. # cop25 #fridaysforfuture #climatestrike pic.twitter.com/9WVhdbuxDL
- Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 7, 2019Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Spanish film star Javier Bardem also took part in the protest. Together with the demonstrators, they called for concrete results at the UN climate summit, which is currently taking place in Madrid (read more about the climate summit in the Spanish capital). Thunberg, who also spoke on Twitter of 500,000 participants, had to leave the march because of the huge hype about her later and was driven with an electric car to the big stage on which the final rally took place.
From next week there will be a ministerial discussion on improved targets to curb global warming. Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze will be from Germany.
