Wow! Just Wow! 700 marches, 600,000 people on 7 continents demand #EndFossilFuels
C: Survival Media Agency

The turnout wildly exceeded expectations, proof that this summer’s record heat, mega floods, and severe weather are putting the climate crisis, and the fight against fossil fuels, at the forefront of peoples’ minds. The turnout was global.

Over seven hundred climate protests and marches were held in over 60 countries over the weekend, with an estimated six hundred thousand people demanding urgent action on climate and the ending of fossil fuels.

Demonstrations were held from Antarctica to the North Pole. On seven continents, mothers, daughters, dads, kids, their grandparents, concerned citizens, politicians and scientists all came together united in solidarity demanding the end of the fossil fuel age.

The message to world leaders was united and emphatic: a commitment to phase out fossil fuels at the UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ upcoming Global Climate Ambition Summit, which starts in New York City on September 20.

Under the hashtags,  #EndFossilFuels #FastFairForever, march after march, protest after protest, argued that this meeting in New York presents a critical opportunity for tangible action to keep fossil fuels in the ground. Literally, from all corners of the world people screamed: It is time to keep it in the ground.

It was a message to all politicians, but particularly for President Biden. Climate leadership starts at home. Recent OCI research, published last week, revealed that the United States is the Planet Wrecker In Chief, accounting for more than one-third of planned global oil and gas expansion through 2050.

Also, last week an open letter published by some 400 scientists implored Joe Biden to endorse the demands of this weekend’s March to End Fossil Fuels in New York—which include halting new fossil fuel projects, ending oil and gas drilling on public lands, and declaring a climate emergency.

Protesters on the March to End Fossil Fuels in New York were led by indigenous communities from across the US. They shouted, “Climate justice, climate justice”. Addressing the speakers were politicians, activists, celebrities and scientists:

 

Summing up the day, Allie Rosenbluth, United States Program Manager at OCI said: “Today we marched as a united front, driven by unprecedented heat, alarming droughts, extreme floods, and consequent loss of livelihoods, homes, and people. Those responsible for the destruction have names.”

Rosenbluth added: “The culprits are fossil fuel companies and their government allies, who choose to expand extraction and continue to profit at our expense”.

The march made the front page of New York Times:

But it was not just New York.

 

In the Congo, for example, AP reported that “dozens joined a protest march through the city of Goma, shouting slogans and waving banners and placards calling for an end to corporate control of fossil fuels. The Congolese government caused an uproar among environmentalists last year by putting 30 oil and gas blocks up for auction, including 13 blocks crisscrossing through protected areas and national parks.”

Eric Njuguna, a climate activist based in Nairobi, Kenya told Reuters “We’re taking to the streets to demand that African leaders phase out on fossil fuels and focus on investing in community-led renewable energy, to meet the energy demand for the 600 million Africans who do not have access to electricity.”

In the Philippines, Mitzi Jonelle Tan, a climate activist with Fridays for Future in Manila, said “This is directed at world leaders. The fossil fuel industry’s time is up. We need a just transition, and we need to phase out the fossil fuels causing the destruction of our environment.”

People were marching for clean air, clean water, a safe future for their families, communities and kids. People worn down by being on the frontline of fights for ecological and social justice. People are angry at being on the ever-expanding, unpredictable and often catastrophic frontline of climate change.

They have had enough of the lies and deceit of the fossil fuel industry that continues to prioritise profit over people and still does not recognise the severity of the climate crisis we all face. For too long, fossil fuel CEOs and politicians in their pockets have divided and distracted us with falsehoods while they pollute our air, poison our water and dump toxins into our neighbourhoods.

They exploit our differences to pick and choose where to dump toxins based on the contents of our wallets and the color of our skin. Their message to Biden was there is a unique chance to put an end to the expansion of fossil fuels and ensure that we all have clean air to breathe and fresh water to drink.

Politicians can show climate leadership. With a step in the right direction, in the latest legal action against the industry, the state of California is suing five major fossil fuel companies over their contribution to the climate crisis.

If California can show climate leadership, Joe Biden can too. The world, from every continent, is watching and waiting.

One Comment

  • Oh thank you! It gives me so much hope to see all these fantastic people marching for one and the same goal – to end fossil fuels and stabilize the climate! Now something MUST happen!

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