This weekend, streets across more than 50 countries will be filled with climate activists demanding a halt to the use of environment-harming fossil fuels. This comes against the backdrop of an alarming year marked by devastating floods, rampant wildfires, and severe drought, which have together caused numerous fatalities and wreaked economic havoc.
In total, organizers have planned upwards of 500 events spanning 54 nations, including Pakistan, Nigeria, and the U.S. This could be the largest coordinated climate action since the pre-Covid era, reminiscent of the global “school strike” movement spearheaded by Swedish advocate Greta Thunberg.
Mitzi Jonelle Tan, a young activist associated with the ‘Fridays for Future’ movement in Manila, highlighted the intent, stating, “We’re sending a clear message to our global leaders. The era of the fossil fuel industry must end. Our planet’s health demands transitioning away from these damaging energy sources.”
The protesting groups have a clear agenda: urging governments to cut subsidies for the oil and gas sector and halt any production expansion plans. Shockingly, an IMF study revealed that last year, governments allocated a staggering $7 trillion to subsidize fossil fuels.
Eric Njuguna, a Nairobi-based climate champion, emphasized the African perspective, saying, “Our focus should shift from fossil fuels to community-driven renewable energy. This can potentially serve the 600 million Africans currently living without electricity.”
These protests come just ahead of the much-anticipated U.N. COP28 climate summit. Over 80 nations will gather there, aiming to chart a plan for the gradual discontinuation of coal, oil, and gas. While the detrimental impact of fossil fuels on climate is acknowledged, a unanimous agreement on their phase-out has been elusive.
However, challenges persist. Countries economically dependent on fossil fuels, and those viewing them as a means to uplift underprivileged communities, might resist such a transition.
Meanwhile, developed countries are under scrutiny to substantially increase funding to aid developing nations in their switch to greener energy solutions. Though renewable energy promises long-term cost-effectiveness, initial investments in infrastructure like wind turbines and solar installations remain a hurdle.
Interestingly, despite its abundant solar potential, Africa has secured a mere 2% of worldwide renewable energy investments over the past 20 years, as stated by the International Renewable Energy Agency.
The climax is expected in New York this Sunday, with approximately 15,000 participants projected to march in unison. This comes just as leaders assemble for the forthcoming UN General Assembly and the “climate ambition summit.”
UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, is likely to call on these leaders to reinforce their commitment to curbing global warming. This plea gains urgency as a recent UN report underscored the dire trajectory we’re on, advocating for a rapid decrease in coal usage by the end of this decade, alongside a significant surge in financial support for cleaner energy and adaptation measures in vulnerable nations.
