It is halfway through the UN climate change conference in Glasgow.
Greta Thunberg accuses the heads of state and government of inaction in the fight against the climate crisis.
Glasgow - On Friday (November 5th), almost a week after the start of the World Climate Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, thousands of people demonstrated for more speed in the fight against climate change.
They demanded “no more blah blah” and immediate action by politicians.
Among other things: Greta Thunberg and her German Fridays-for-Future colleague Luisa Neubauer.
The demonstrators on Friday called in chants for a "system change" and more climate justice - especially for poorer countries.
Slogans such as “Capitalism is killing the planet”, “Act now!” And “The dinosaurs also thought they had time” could be read on posters.
Climate activist Thunberg gave an acclaimed speech in George Square in central Glasgow.
Greta Thunberg describes the World Climate Conference as a failure: "Two-week celebration of the blah blah blah"
The 18-year-old accused the heads of state and government of inaction in the fight against the climate crisis.
"The leaders don't do nothing - they actively create loopholes and create framework conditions in order to benefit themselves and continue to benefit from this destructive system," said Thunberg.
The world climate conference has developed into a PR event.
"It is no secret that COP26 is a failure," she expressed clear criticism.
“This is no longer a climate conference.
This is now a greenwashing festival of the global north, a two-week celebration of business as usual and blah blah blah! ”, Denounced the climate activist.
There have already been 26 such climate conferences.
“But where did they take us?
More than 50 percent of all CO2 emissions have been emitted since 1990, a third since 2005. "
+
Greta Thunberg during her speech on the sidelines of the UN climate summit COP26 in Glasgow.
© Jane Barlow / dpa
World Climate Conference: Ex-US Vice President Al Gore shows solidarity with demonstrators
Former US Vice President Al Gore expressed solidarity with the demonstrators.
"To everyone in the halls of COP26: Now is the time to listen to them and act," he wrote on Twitter.
In order not to disappoint the younger generation, "the time of procrastination and distraction" has to come to an end, explained the longtime environmental activist.
The international community must recognize that it has now entered a "phase of consequences" and must turn this into a "phase of solutions".
The President of the World Climate Conference shows understanding for the anger of young people
The President of the World Climate Conference, Alok Sharma, showed understanding for the anger of many young people about the long-delayed climate protection worldwide.
“I understand that, I have children myself,” he said at an event at which young people demanded more ambition and speed in the fight against the climate crisis.
At the same time, Sharma referred to the latest promises that give hope: For example, the promise of major economies by the G20 to no longer subsidize the construction of coal-fired power plants abroad with public funds.
The new pact of a good 100 countries to stop deforestation by 2030 is also groundbreaking.
"Together we have to make sure that everyone keeps their promises," admitted Sharma.
Greenpeace calls for more movement in the negotiations: "Lives are at stake"
The environmental protection organization Greenpeace called for more movement in the negotiations after the first week of the world climate conference. It was a bad week for coal, gas and oil companies - "but not bad enough," said Greenpeace boss Jennifer Morgan. With a view to publicly announced commitments by dozen countries to phase out coal, protect forests and reduce methane emissions, she criticized that too much of it was purely voluntary. There are also many loopholes in the small print.
In the second week of negotiations, which is now beginning, trust must be built, said Morgan, who has been at all climate conferences for a good 20 years.
This requires “breakthroughs” in climate aid for poor countries.
“We're here in Glasgow because lives are at stake.
The next week is a test for humanity and the time to act, ”said Morgan.
In Glasgow around 200 countries are struggling to find out how the goal of limiting global warming to a tolerable level of a maximum of 1.5 degrees can still be achieved.
According to the plans submitted by the states up to the summit, however, the world is currently heading towards 2.7 degrees - that would have catastrophic consequences.
The planned end of the World Climate Conference, to which many politicians traveled by private jets, is November 12th.
(ph / dpa)
List of rubric lists: © Jane Barlow