As the devastating consequences of climate change continue to wreak havoc across the globe, a massive demonstration swept through the streets of New York City on Sunday, with a passionate call to end the use of fossil fuels—the primary driver behind global warming. The protest coincided with the impending commencement of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session scheduled for later this month.
Stretching across several city blocks, the protest was attended by a diverse coalition of activists representing over 600 organizations and groups. They carried banners and placards emblazoned with messages such as “Biden, end fossil fuels,” “Fossil fuels are killing us,” and “I didn’t vote for fires and floods.” The demonstration came as a stark reminder of a summer marked by a series of climate change-related disasters, including wildfires, hurricanes, and floods.
Notably, US President Joe Biden, along with other world leaders, is set to participate in the UNGA, formally commencing this Tuesday.
Analilia Mejia, the director of the activist group Center for Popular Democracy, articulated the protesters’ demands, stating, “We are here to demand that the administration declare a climate emergency. We must wake up and take immediate action.”
A recent UN climate report, released earlier this month, set 2025 as the deadline for global greenhouse gas emissions to peak and subsequently sharply decline to align with the targets of the Paris Agreement. The report underscored the urgent need for enhanced climate action in the lead-up to a crucial climate summit in Dubai at the year’s end.
The Paris Agreement, established in 2015, has indeed spurred climate action, but experts concur that much more is required across all sectors to meet its goals. Achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, another central Paris Agreement objective, necessitates phasing out the use of fossil fuels without effective carbon capture or compensation.
Mejia, aged 46, cited recent extreme weather events, including wildfires in Canada, Hawaii, and Greece, as well as flooding in Libya, as clear indicators of the existential crisis posed by climate change.
Nalleli Cobo, a 22-year-old activist who has collaborated with climate campaigner Greta Thunberg from Sweden, urged political leaders to experience the realities of living near oil and gas wells, remarking, “Our lives are on the line.” Cobo attributes her battle with ovarian cancer at the age of 19 to the “toxic air” she was exposed to at her home in California.
While President Joe Biden has initiated historic efforts to bolster green manufacturing and invest billions in clean energy projects, some young activists argue that his actions thus far have not been forceful enough to steer the United States away from fossil fuel dependency.
Adding to the urgency of the climate crisis, California recently filed a lawsuit against five major global oil corporations, alleging that these companies caused billions of dollars in damages and misled the public by downplaying the risks associated with fossil fuels.
Prominent scientists worldwide have issued a warning that the planet is on track to experience new record-breaking heat within the next five years, with a high likelihood of surpassing the critical threshold of a 1.5-degree Celsius temperature increase.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has organized a Climate Ambition summit scheduled for Wednesday during the General Assembly. He hopes this summit will accelerate climate change mitigation efforts among governments, private sector organizations, and financial institutions.
Analilia Mejia summed up the importance of the upcoming events by stating, “History will remember their action or inaction. And if we’re lucky, human beings will be around to remember what [world leaders] did in this summit.”
