Hundreds of people gathered in Newcastle city centre this afternoon to demand more action to address the climate crisis.
As world leaders met in Egypt for the COP27 Global UN Climate Summit, mass mobilisations in towns and cities across the world took to the streets to demand that governments do more to tackle climate change. At 12pm, demonstrators met at Newcastle's Grey's Monument to take part in a rally organised by North East Climate Justice Coalition.
People assembled from 11.45am to hear from a number of key speakers on the issue, including North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll, Divest Tyne & Wear representative Anne-Marie Soulsby and Youth Climate Strike activists. Many who gathered held flags and banners displaying messages such as "The seas are rising and so are we", "Don't COP out" and "Tick-tock no time to delay".
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Bangshees all-women samba drummers then led the march along Northumberland Street to the Civic Centre where there was a mini-Green Festival and an ‘Ask The Expert’ stall.
Climate Justice Coalition North East coordinator Anya Cook said: "We need solutions that put an end to the inequality and injustice that we have seen riven through our society. We need investment in further and adult education to enable training and upskilling in green technologies and a just transition to climate jobs, protecting the workforce as it transforms."
Climate Justice Coalition North East coordinator Tony Dowling said: "We are being failed by our world leaders. Even UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says progress since COP26 last year has been 'woefully inadequate.' After three decades of what Greta Thunberg rightly identified as 'blah blah blah' it's time to disband the COP conferences, listen to the peoples of the world saying this crisis demands climate action right now!"
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