CLIMATE activists set to bring disruption to the streets of Glasgow during COP26 say they “intend to get arrested” while championing their cause.
Extinction Rebellion have previously warned of high-impact “deliberate disruption” as thousands of delegates and hundreds of world leaders descend on the city for the summit.
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 First Minister has previously pleaded with the protestors to “do it peacefully”.
Charlie Gardener, a spokesperson from Scientist Rebellion, a group within Extinction Rebellion, said getting arrested is a way to convey the “urgency” of the climate crisis.
He also praised the actions of Insulate Britain, who have been blocking motorway traffic in England to raise awareness of their cause.
Speaking to BBC’s Good Morning Scotland, Mr Gardener said: “We’ll be heading to Glasgow this week to engage in a disruptive action in which we intend to be arrested.
“The reason we’re doing this is because as scientists we have tried every available channel to get our message heard, and we’ve not been able to do that.
“Even today, most people do not fully understand the extent of the danger we’re in.
“Having failed for 40 years, we’re now forced to use other means and getting arrested is one of the ways that we can get into the news and communicate the urgency that our knowledge compels us to act with.
“I think recent protests by Insulate Britain have been successful. This country is simply not ready for climate change.”
Speaking at the summit, the First Minister said she shares Boris Johnson’s pessimism over the COP26 climate talks, but urged leaders to “put our shoulders to the wheel”.
The Prime Minister said ahead of the start of the summit in Glasgow that pledges made in the Paris Agreement designed to curb emissions will not have worked.
Nicola Sturgeon, speaking as world leaders from more than 100 countries arrived in Scotland’s largest city, said she shared the outlook of the Prime Minister.
But she urged those involved in talks to put aside the pessimism and work to secure action on climate change.
“The Prime Minister is right to be pessimistic at this stage – I share his pessimism,” she told Sky News.
“We’ve all got to put the pessimism to one side and put our shoulders to the wheel.
“The UK, having the presidency of this COP, has a particular responsibility to corral the leaders, to bring them together, to encourage them to do more than they are currently committed to do.
“There’s a big gap on emissions, a big gap on climate finance – so much, much work to be done, and I will do everything I can to push it in the right direction.”
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