Highland protesters to stage march in Inverness for Global Day of Climate Action
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Climate campaign activists from across the Highlands and Moray will join in a Global Day of Climate Action on Saturday in Inverness.
Ruth Dunster, of Extinction Rebellion for Highlands and Islands, said although warm words were being spoken at
COP28 – the UN climate summit currently taking place in Dubai – the elephant in the room was the urgent need to transition from fossil fuels to renewables, in a big way.
"We are marching on Saturday because we can’t keep silent about the greenwashing which we have found the COP Conference to be, year in, year out, failing our present and future safety," she said.
She said everyone was welcome to join the demonstration at Inverness Town House at 2pm and then Falcon Square for speakers and advice on what individuals can do.
Extinction Rebellion UK has stated this year’s COP host, the UAE, plans to use its powerful role to strike oil and gas deals.
It said the person leading COP was chief executive of UAE’s state oil company which has the largest oil expansion plans of any company in the world.
It added the UN had called fossil fuel expansion "insanity" which wouldj throw humanity’s future into question.
Sila Collins-Walden, of Inverness Quakers, said Quakers advocate for just economics systems which sustain people and the planet.
"Climate injustice effects the most vulnerable, the poor, indigenous people such as those in the Pacific Islands who have asked those countries who rely on fossil fuel to reduce their use," she said.
"Quakers work with climate campaigners around the world.
"As we go into COP 28, it’s disappointing to see that the president of COP 28 claims there’s no science behind the fossil fuel phase out.
"If we stand together, we can apply pressure on governments and to challenge them that fossil fuels are a danger to our home, the planet."
