Taking place while world leaders are meeting for COP28 in Dubai, another 'Great' Climate March is organised in Brussels on Sunday, with about 20,000 climate activists taking to the streets of the European capital.
The Climate Coalition (a group of dozens of organisations, including trade unions and environmental movements) is organising the march from 12:30; thousands of demonstrators gathered at the North Station for a route to the Cinquantenaire Park. Some 20,000 people attended the march, according to the organisation.
"With a few weeks to go before the start of the Belgian Presidency of the European Union and on the eve of an election year, it was all the more important to let the people's voice be heard," said Zanna Van Renterghem, President of the Climate Coalition. "Belgium must opt for an ambitious ecological and social transition."
The Climate Coalition calls for concrete measures to tackle the climate crisis, such as the phasing out of fossil subsidies, an ambitious nature restoration law, and a concrete support plan to make homes energy efficient. "The cost of the climate crisis is increasing every day, the solutions are there. More than ever, it is possible to defend our prosperity and security in a socially just manner," Vanrenterghem added.
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Credit: The Brussels Times
Credit: The Brussels Times
Every tenth of a degree counts
"Take to the streets en masse to demand that Belgium and Europe finally get their act together to make the industry sector sustainable, improve the quality of our public transport, insulate our homes and restore nature," said Nicolas Van Nuffel, Chair of Climate Coalition.
With this demonstration, the Climate Coalition calls on all political leaders to work on an effective and just transition. The organisation believes that the climate crisis should be the top priority of the next government, especially now that the limit of 1.5°C of global warming is getting closer.
"Today, we walk for healthier air, more equality, better jobs, more biodiversity and less drought. Every tenth of a degree less means a better life: for us, for our children and all future generations," they said.
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Credit: Belga/Nicolas Maeterlinck
Credit: The Brussels Times
In the meantime, the COP28 in Dubai is taking place. It is widely seen as the most important annual meeting in international climate negotiations, bringing together all countries that signed the 1992 UN Climate Convention.
For two weeks, they will discuss how to limit global warming to 1.5°C, while for the very first time, the Global Stocktake will be published – a global inventory monitoring the implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement.
As ever, various NGOs have warned that greater urgency is needed in these discussions – the 1.5°C mark was already exceeded this year. During his speech in Dubai, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo stressed that ecology and economy should reinforce each other: "We are not going to build a climate paradise on an industrial wasteland."
Credit: The Brussels Times
Credit: The Brussels Times
Credit: The Brussels Times
