Thousands protest: "The dinosaurs also thought they had time"

They demand “no more blah” and immediate action against the climate crisis: 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 global warming. In chants on Friday, the participants called for a "system change" and more climate justice - especially for poorer countries. Leading climate activists such as Greta Thunberg from Sweden were there. Slogans such as “Capitalism is killing the planet”, “Act now!” And “The dinosaurs also thought they had time” could be read on posters.

Thunberg was cheered by the crowd during her speech in George Square in the center of the city.

The 18-year-old accused the heads of state of the major economic powers of inaction in the fight against the climate crisis.

"It's no secret that COP26 is a failure," she said.

“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! ”She denounced that 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. "

"Now is the time to listen to them"

Before that, the crowd had marched through the city center - with Thunberg, her German Fridays for Future campaigner Luisa Neubauer and other climate activists. Many schoolchildren and families went with the demonstration, but also elderly people. Primary school children carried signs that read “Save our world” and “What about us?”. The mood was peaceful - and sometimes happy. In chants, however, there was also anger and disappointment of many young people about climate protection that had been delayed for decades around the world.

Former US Vice President Al Gore expressed his 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 a speech he said that the world could meet the expectations of young people - but that would put an end to the time of procrastination, distraction and clinging to the past. The international community must recognize that it has now entered a “phase of consequences” and is making it a “phase of solutions”.

After the protest on Friday, another climate academy follows this Saturday in Glasgow, in which tens of thousands should take part again, according to the organizers' expectations.

Thunberg also speaks here.

The protest is part of a global day of action that organizers estimate will bring hundreds of thousands to the streets in more than 200 cities around the world.

The President of the World Climate Conference, Alok Sharma, expressed 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.

But he admitted: "Together we have to make sure that everyone keeps their promises."

A change of course is mandatory

In Scotland, 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, the world is heading towards 2.7 degrees with its current plans - with catastrophic consequences.

The planned end of the conference is November 12th.

The environmental protection organization Greenpeace called for more movement in the negotiations after the first week of the 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. "