Glasgow’s biggest protest as 100,000 demand climate action

Huge crowds have descended on wet and windy central Glasgow protesting the lack of action taken by world leaders at COP26.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg speaks to the crowd in George Square the end point for the Fridays For Future rally in Glasgow. Picture: AFP

More than 100,000 people descended on wet and windy central Glasgow on Saturday protesting about the frustrating lack of action taken by world leaders at the United Nations Climate Conference just down the Clyde.

This comes as the COP26 president and British MP Alok Sharma urged “all parties to come to the table with the constructive compromises and ambitions needed’’ for the second week of the conference.

As the major conference outcomes have stalled amid lukewarm enthusiasm from some countries for targets this decade, Australia, which has bypassed on coal restrictions and reducing methane gases in big announcements last week, was one of 45 countries on Saturday to pledge to protect nature and shift to more sustainable farming.

Mr Sharma warned that global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius above industrial levels will see 70 per cent of coral reefs lost. If the warming is two degrees they will all die, he said. He also highlighted that the global wildlife population has declined by 68 per cent since 1970.

“If we are to limit global warming and keep the goal of 1.5C alive, then the world needs to use land sustainably and put protection and restoration of nature at the heart of all we do,’’ he said, as the UK committed £500m to protect over five million hectares of tropical rainforests and create thousands of green jobs across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Pledges from other countries have tallied £3bn but organisers were unclear of Australia’s exact financial contributions.

More than 100,000 people descended on wet and windy central Glasgow to protest. Picture: AFP

Mr Sharma added: “The commitments being made today show that nature and land use is being recognised as essential to meeting the Paris Agreement goals, and will contribute to addressing the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.”

Actor Idris Elba warned of food insecurity at the COP26 conference: “This conversation around food is something that needs to be really amplified, and one thing I’ve got is a big mouth.

Actor Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina Elba speak to promote action for greener, fairer and more sustainable food systems at COP26. Picture: Getty

He said: “The supply chain is going to be damaged if we don‘t figure out what we’re going to do around climate change. That image of all those lines of people in LA, lining down with families waiting for food is a reality for us in the future if we don’t find ways to tackle this issue now.”

Outside, the huge numbers of protesters outside the COP braved torrential rain and high winds to make a point to leaders to “stop the blah, blah’’ and take immediate dramatic action to stop global warming. They were waving flags, chanting, and drumming, and dressed up as animals facing extinction – there was even one unicorn.

Protesters rally for climate change action in Glasgow during the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference. Photo: Daniel Leal-Olivas

Indigenous leaders from Australia and Amazon youth from Brazil and Ecuador, and Canadian led the march from Kelvingrove Park through the city to Glasgow Green.

But a stage prepared for six hours of speeches had to be dismantled because of high winds, forcing speakers to take to the back of a truck.

Police had to use bolt cutters to remove 21 Scientist Rebellion activists who had chained themselves together on Glasgow‘s George V Bridge.