Hundreds of climate protestors from Extinction Rebellion (XR) are planning highly impactful “deliberate disruption” throughout Scotland during the COP26 summit.
Starting on October 30, the UN’s international climate summit talks are to be held in Glasgow over two weeks and a number of protests have been planned to coincide with the major global event.
While XR has not announced in advance how, or where it will protest, the group has confirmed that it will use “non-violent direct action”. The group has confirmed that it would not block routes used by emergency vehicles.
Myke Hall, XR’s Scottish spokesperson, warned that ministers should be “very worried” about “targeted disruption”.
“The UK Government’s track record shows they are not taking climate change as seriously as the science is demanding,” he told The Times.
“We are unwilling to put up with that any longer.”
He said the aim is not to add further disruption into “ordinary people’s” lives, but argued the “inaction of governments” and climate change will create more disruption.
“A million plant and animal species are at risk of extinction and the failure of the governments involved is a crime against humanity,” Hall added.
READ MORE: Sturgeon: COP26 will cause 'regrettable' disruption for Glaswegians
Rebecca Newson, the organisation’s head of politics, added: "I can't go into more details about what our plans are at this stage but hopefully they will help to have a big impact and contribute to that sense of pressure that world leaders need to feel."
Today, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issued a plea to people planning to protest in Glasgow during COP26.
“People do want to come and make their voices heard, I think that is understandable given the importance of the issues under discussion,” she said during FMQs.
“But I would say to people looking to come to protest in Glasgow, do it peacefully and do it with the recognition that the people of Glasgow are agreeing to host this conference, are suffering some disruption because of that, so don’t add to that disruption for them, but let’s all get behind those who will be negotiating, I hope, a good outcome for the future of the planet.”
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