Tag: Climate Justice Coalition

Edinburgh march joins global calls for fast and fair transition away from fossil fuels

Climate campaigners will march through Edinburgh today (16 /9/ 23) to demand the UK and Scottish Governments develop a plan for a fair and fast transition away from fossil fuels. 

The protestors are demanding action to phase out oil and gas in the UK including a halt to controversial projects like the Rosebank oil field and a new gas-fired power station in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. 

Organisers say there must be a fair and fast transition for the workers and the communities most affected by the move away from fossil fuels and these people should be at the heart of planning this transition to ensure it meets their needs.  

The march is one of 400 actions taking place around the world with millions of people involved this weekend ahead of a UN Climate Ambition Summit of world leaders in New York next week.

Scientists, energy experts and climate campaigners agree that there must be no new investment in oil, gas or coal anywhere if the world is to limit further climate breakdown. Despite this the UK Government wants to “max out” new North Sea oil and gas and grant over 100 new licences for further oil and gas exploration. 

The march is organised by a coalition of groups including Edinburgh Climate Coalition, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Fridays for Future, Climate Justice Coalition, War on Want, Extinction Rebellion Edinburgh, Scot.E3, Greenpeace Edinburgh and Youth in Resistance. 

Steve Gray, a delegate of Aberdeen Trades Union Council who will speak at the rally after the march said: “Aberdeen Trades Union Council welcomes the opportunity to march in solidarity with the climate justice movement and thanks everyone for their support for a just transition for workers employed by the fossil fuel industries.

“The tragic deaths caused by the Stonehaven trail derailment during a storm showed the devastating impacts of a changing climate. Aberdeen Trades Union Council, alongside our STUC allies, recognise that we cannot allow these hazards to multiply and threaten our communities.

“All our gains from free school education to votes for working people and equal pay for women have been won through collective struggles. We can once again win this shared fight and secure decent jobs for people building climate resilient communities in Scotland and around the world.”

Lucia Harrington, Lead Organiser of Fuel Poverty Action who campaign for insulated homes and clean, affordable energy for all commented: “Our households’ resources, and the earth’s resources, are being exploited by the profiteering fossil fuel industry, and this is driving fuel poverty and climate disaster.

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One of the leading causes of the cost of living crisis was that fossil fuel powered energy companies were allowed to make record profits at the expense of millions of people who are forced to go without heating, hot water and electricity.

“We need a just transition now to an energy system that works for people and the planet. Many workers in the fossil fuel industry want to be part of this transition without losing their jobs and falling into fuel poverty.”

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s oil and gas campaigner Freya Aitchison said: “Millions of people will be in the streets around the world because politicians are failing to deliver the fast and fair transition away from the fossil fuels that are fuelling climate breakdown.

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The near daily climate disasters we are witnessing from Libya, to Greece to China are driven by the burning of fossil fuels yet politicians are still cheerleading for fossil fuel companies. Rishi Sunak’s plan to ‘max out’ oil and gas will maximise climate destruction while the Scottish Government is considering approving a new gas plant at Peterhead in Aberdeenshire which will lock us into burning fossil fuels for decades to come.”  

“Marchers in Edinburgh are calling for a properly planned transition away from oil and gas which is led by the workers and communities most affected. A credible plan to switch to renewables can deliver huge benefits to people such as more affordable energy, secure green jobs, warm homes and a safe climate.”

Edinburgh Climate March to join Global Day of Action against fossil fuels

Climate campaigners have announced that Edinburgh will join a global day of action against fossil fuels with a march through the capital on Saturday 16 September.

The march will demand a fair and fast transition away from fossil fuels, calling for the workers and the communities most affected to be at the heart of planning this transition to ensure it meets their needs.

This wave of global protests and mobilisations will include the ‘March to End Fossil Fuels: fast, fair, forever’ in New York City on Sunday 17 September, as world leaders attend the United Nations Secretary-General’s Climate Ambition Summit.

Scientists, energy experts and climate campaigners agree that there must be no new investment in oil, gas or coal anywhere if the world is to limit further climate breakdown. Despite this the UK Government wants to “max out” new North Sea oil and gas and grant over 100 new licences for further oil and gas exploration.

The Edinburgh March is organised by a coalition of groups including Edinburgh Climate Coalition, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Fridays for Future, Climate Justice Coalition, War on Want, Extinction Rebellion Edinburgh, Scot.E3, Greenpeace Edinburgh and Youth in Resistance.

Marchers will highlight the threat posed by new oil fields such as Rosebank and the proposal for an extra gas-fired power station at Peterhead currently being considered by the Scottish Government.

Evelyn McGregor from the Edinburgh Climate Coalition said: “The protest is part of the biggest ever global day of action against fossil fuels.

“We’re getting organised and protesting because of Rishi Sunak’s promise to give out hundreds of new oil licences despite the record-breaking temperatures, extreme weather and terrifying wildfires this summer.

“By choosing to max out fossil fuels, politicians are lighting the climate’s touch paper and signing a death sentence for millions of people.”

Dylan Hamilton, an activist with Fridays For Future, said: “The threat posed by the climate crisis cannot be overstated, we have already seen destruction on a global scale at just 1.1C of global warming. Continuing to burn fossil fuels will lock in several more degrees of warming, and destroy billions of lives.

“The solution is simple: we must stop burning fossil fuels.

“Activists, from school pupils to pensioners, have been demanding that governments tackle this crisis and move away from fossil fuels for years. We hope that today’s politicians will finally listen.”

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s just transition campaigner Rosie Hampton said: “Politicians are failing to deliver the fair and fast transition away from fossil fuels that is desperately needed by workers, communities and the climate.

“Both the Scottish and UK Governments are listening to oil and gas lobbyists instead of what climate scientists are telling them and the devastating evidence of extreme weather around the world.

“The Scottish Government is considering approving a huge new gas-fired power station at Peterhead despite the fact it will lock us into fossil fuels for decades to come. The developers have admitted the plant will worsen climate pollution, so Scottish Ministers must use their power and responsibility to reject this new fossil fuel infrastructure.”

“By putting in place a credible plan to transition to renewable energy people in Scotland can have warm homes, excellent public transport and good green jobs. We hope that as many people as possible can join us in the streets to bring this message to both the Scottish and the UK Government.”

Thousands march for Climate Justice

Several thousand people marched through Edinburgh yesterday as part of Global Day of Action for climate justice during the UN Climate Conference COP27 in Egypt.

The March was demanding action on warmer homes, better public transport and a speedy transition away from oil and gas which organisers say will help address the cost of living crisis as well as cut climate pollution.

The route through the capital took protestors past different stops highlighting the banks, polluters and governments who are driving climate breakdown.

The event also drew attention to the importance of upholding human rights in responding to the climate crisis, here in the UK and world-wide, as the issue of brutal repression of civil society in Egypt comes under the spotlight.

The march was one of over 40 events across the UK and Ireland on a Global Day of Action for Climate Justice.

Friends of the Earth Scotland head of campaigns Mary Church commented: “As world leaders gather once again to negotiate the future of humanity, thousands of people are marching to demand solutions to the climate crisis that put people and the planet first.

“The solutions to climate change are within grasp and only require the political will to deliver them urgently. Governments need to stop prioritising the demands of big polluters and start listening to the people instead.

“Putting an end date on oil and gas well within the decade, with a just transition to reliable, affordable renewables will help tackle the cost of living crisis as well as slashing emissions.

“There can be no climate justice without human rights, yet governments around the world including here in the UK are clamping down on civic space.

“We stand in solidarity with those already experiencing the impacts of climate breakdown and with the people of Egypt who are being denied their human rights by a brutal regime.

“We support the call of the Egyptian human rights movement for the release of all those who are being unjustly detained including British citizen and human rights defender Alaa Abd El Fattah who is on hunger strike in prison.”

November 12 March was organised by the Edinburgh Climate Coalition, Climate Justice Coalition, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Global Justice Now, Extinction Rebellion Scotland, Tipping Point, BankTrack, Jubilee Scotland, Scot.E3.

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PICTURES: Neil Hanna, Colin Hattersley and Ric Lander

Climate March: Scotland to join Global Day of Action on 12th November

Edinburgh will host a Climate Justice March on Saturday 12 November as part of a Global Day of Action, campaigners have announced.

It will take place during the UN Climate Conference COP27 that runs from 6 – 18th November in Egypt. The family friendly march is being organised by a range of climate and environmental groups and will coincide with over 20 UK events and scores more around the world.

Civil society activists in Egypt face persecution from one of the most repressive regimes in the world so there will be no mass mobilisation in Egypt around the climate talks. Egyptian activists along with allies across African countries and the Arab world, are calling for this global day of action to draw attention to demands for climate justice and human rights.

Since COP26 ended in Glasgow last year, people have felt the devastating impact of extreme climate change including the floods in Pakistan that displaced tens of millions, deadly heat waves across Europe and famine in East Africa.

This global crisis is being driven by the burning of fossil fuels. At the same time we are facing a cost of living crisis fuelled by rising energy prices. But in the last 12 months the UK Government has opened new oil and gas fields, tried to lift its ban on fracking in England, as well as offering licences for companies to explore for even more fossil fuels.

Campaigners will highlight how solutions to the climate crisis such as insulating our homes and investing in affordable renewable energy are essential to tackling the cost of living crisis.

The March will gather at St Andrew Square in Edinburgh at 12 noon on Saturday 12 November.

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s head of campaigns Mary Church said: “The climate crisis demands action on a global scale. Governments and corporations are adding fuel to the fire by going after more fossil fuels and fantasy techno-fixes that will only serve to delay action and line the pockets of the rich.

“We are marching to demand real solutions that will halt climate breakdown and improve ordinary peoples’ lives – an end to fossil fuels and a just transition to safe, affordable renewables.

“We see the suffering of climate impacted people around the world and we stand in solidarity with them and in particular with the people of Egypt who are being denied their human rights by a brutal regime.”

Extinction Rebellion Scotland are joining the march and highlighted the key issue from the UN climate talks of Loss and Damage. This is when the destruction from climate change is so great that it cannot be avoided or adapted to, and the people affected need compensation for their loss.

Joan Forehand, from Extinction Rebellion Scotland, commented: “None of us are going to be insulated from the climate crisis but there is terrible injustice and unfairness to this catastrophe.

“The wealthy have caused the most emissions, yet it is the poorest of humanity who are going to suffer disproportionately. Their natural resources have been extracted to create wealth for others. They are losing their homes, their futures and their lands and they don’t have the resources to protect themselves or rebuild their lives.

“It’s only fair that loss and damage payments are given to those who will suffer the most from this crisis, through no fault of their own. Without the justice of loss and damage, efforts to avoid ever worsening climate breakdown will stall and everyone will suffer.”

Luke Henderson, Coordinator of the Edinburgh Climate Coalition, explained why their grassroots group are involved in organising and promoting the march: “It is clear that our government won’t act urgently enough to reduce climate changing emissions and so it is up to us, the people, to push them into action.

“We have seen the huge impact that ordinary people can have through movements like Black Lives Matter and the #MeToo campaign. We need everyone who cares about the environment to show it to the world by joining this mass mobilisation.”

“It is fantastic that so many significant environment campaigns in Scotland are working together to promote the Edinburgh march and the energy and vibrancy of activists is going to create some fantastic art, music and excitement for the public to engage with and enjoy along the march route.

“Getting on the streets to save our planet could not be a more important issue, and this time having your say will be fun!”

Organised by the Edinburgh Climate Coalition, Climate Justice Coalition, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Global Justice Now, Extinction Rebellion Scotland, Tipping Point, BankTrack, Jubilee Scotland, Scot.E3 and others.