According to police figures, some 20,000 people took part in a Climate March in Brussels on Sunday. The organising Climate Coalition speaks of 30,000 participants. The protesters have a clear demand: public money must enable a fair and ambitious climate policy. ‘Politicians must think more about young people's future.’
In a press release from the Climate Coalition, the activists focus on the responsibilities of politicians. ‘Governments have a responsibility to do everything in their power to limit the disruption caused by the climate crisis, not to put policy on “pause”,’ it reads.
‘We call on the Belgian and European authorities to invest in our future, not in its destruction,’ said Nadia Cornejo, vice-chair of the Coalition.
The Climate Coalition calls on governments to shift public funds towards concrete and just climate action, and significantly to increase their ambition to meet the Paris Agreement targets, as recommended by the scientists.
‘Today, too much money is still going to support the fossil fuel sector,’ says demonstrator Joppe Massant. ‘We are asking for that money to be used for sustainable solutions, such as renewable energy and public transport.’
90 per cent reduction in emissions by 2040
The Climate Coalition is also calling on Belgium to advocate a 90 per cent reduction in emissions by 2040 at the upcoming COP30, which will take place from 10 to 21 November in Belém, Brazil.