Tens of thousands join climate change marches in New York, London and across the globe

TENS of thousands including film stars and top politicians marched in New York, London and across the globe to demand action on climate change.

People gather near Columbus Circle before the People's Climate March in New York Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014. Thousands of people from across the nation are expected to participate in what's billed as the largest march ever on global warming. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

TENS of thousands of people marched across the globe on Sunday, joined by celebrities and political leaders to demand urgent action to stem climate change.

Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio, US former vice president turned advocate Al Gore, UN chief Ban Ki-moon and New York mayor Bill de Blasio marched down New York’s Sixth Avenue in what organisers hoped would be the largest such protest in history.

In London, an estimated 40,000 people paraded past Trafalgar Square and the Houses of Parliament, including British actor Emma Thompson who likened the threat posed by climate change to a Martian invasion.

Hollywood backing ... Actor Leonardo DiCaprio participates in the New York march. Picture: Andrew Burton/Getty Images

They were the largest of around 2,500 events around the world that included marches in Sydney and Cairns.

The marches were taking place ahead of a climate change summit hosted by Ban Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Global protest ... Demonstrators display placards and banners as they participate in the Peoples Climate March in London. Picture: Adrian Dennis/AFP

Elderly protesters, leaning on walking sticks and sitting in wheelchairs, joined young parents with children in push chairs, adults in fancy dress and community groups from all over the world in New York to march for change.

“It’s very important. Our climate is killing us,” Coula Farris, an 88-year-old New Yorker told AFP. “Young people deserve a better world and I’m very lucky I can walk,” she said.

March against #ClimateChange #WalkTheWalk pic.twitter.com/WLWNsFedWc

— Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) September 21, 2014

There were chants of “we are idle not more” and “hey, hey, ho, ho, fossil fuels have got to go,” as the colourful march made its way down Sixth Avenue with giant floats, balloons and banners with slogans such as “Urgent, Save our Planet.” Ban, wearing a baseball cap and a T-shirt with the words “I’m for Climate Action,” praised de Blasio for announcing Sunday that New York would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent over 2005 levels by 2050.

The UN secretary-general walked nine blocks in the parade with Gore, de Blasio, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and French Ecology Minister Segolene Royal, who wore a green suit and high heels.

Star support ... Actor and activist Mark Ruffalo takes questions before the start of the People's Climate March in New York. Picture: Craig Ruttle/AP

“Our mission is to make this a decisive moment, a turning point moment and I felt today that I was seeing history starting to be made,” de Blasio said.

In Paris, nearly 5,000 people protested, according to police estimates, many on bikes, with banners that read “Climate in danger” or “World leaders, act!” “Before we could say we didn’t know. Now we know. Climate change is already underway,” Nicolas Hulot, the president’s special envoy for the protection of the planet, told the crowd in central Paris.

Hundreds more protested in several other cities in France, including up to 700 in the south-western city of Bordeaux.

Actor protest ... Movie star Emma Thompson joined an estimated 40,000 people marching in London. Picture: Fiona Hanson/AP

In Madrid, hundreds gathered in front of the environment ministry, brandishing signs with slogans including “There’s no Planet B,” “Change your life, not your climate,” and “Our climate, your decision.” In Cairns, Australia, where finance ministers from the G20 nations were meeting, more than 100 people wearing green paper hearts around their necks gathered outside the venue.

Poltical heavyweights ... From left, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, primatologist Jane Goodall, former US Vice President Al Gore, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York. Picture: Craig Ruttle/AP

They repeatedly chanted “Every dollar spent, every single cent, 100 per cent, green energy” and carried banners including one that read: “Add climate change to the G20.” “I’m here because I’m a parent, I’m here because I’m a scientist, I understand what climate change means for our planet, our children, our economy, our health,” said John Rainbird, an Australian biologist.

French connection ... Climate protesters in Paris. Picture: Francois Guillot/AFP

Hundreds also gathered in Sydney, Australia, and in New Delhi, India, where around 300 protesters carried placards that read “I want to save forests” and “Coal kills”, as they shouted slogans and danced to pounding drum beats.

Police had no immediate estimate of turnout in New York, but witnesses told AFP that tens of thousands took part. London organisers, who said about 40,000 marched there, said the turnout exceeded their expectations.

Mass mobilisation ... There were around 2,500 events taking place around the world. Picture: Adrian Dennis/AFP

Originally published as Tens of thousands join climate change marches in New York, London and across the globe