As world leaders gathered for the UN’s COP29 climate negotiations, we took to the streets of London to demand the UK government ends our reliance on fossil fuels, pays up for climate finance – and ends its complicity in Israel’s escalating genocidal violence.
The climate crisis and genocide in Gaza are inextricably linked and we must put an end to both. Without human rights, there can be no climate justice.
The March for Global Climate Justice was supported by an alliance of more than 60 organisations from across our movements, including:
War on Want, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Amnesty International UK, Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Just Stop Oil, Peace & Justice Project, 350, Green New Deal Rising, Fossil Free London, Energy Embargo for Palestine, Campaign Against Climate Change, JCWI, Palestinian Youth Movement, Quakers in Britain, Global Justice Now, Faith for the Climate and many more.
Why we marched
Record heat in our atmosphere and oceans is driving climate disasters across the globe, with those who’ve done least to cause this crisis suffering most. Global North countries have far exceeded their fair share of the earth’s carrying capacity and are primarily responsible for the climate crisis.
Against this backdrop, Israel’s deadly assault has killed at least 42,000 Palestinians over the last year and displaced more than 90% of Gaza’s population. Every semblance of decency and humanity has been violated with absolute impunity, despite well-documented war crimes, crimes against humanity and what the ICJ has ruled as a plausible case of genocide.
At COP29 in November, the UK government will make claims to climate leadership. But these will ring hollow if Prime Minister Starmer continues to funnel public money into militarism, war and fossil fuel projects.
The same fossil fuel corporations driving the climate crisis and blocking a just transition are those funnelling Israel the oil it needs for its war machine: all to secure their profits. If we’re to have any hope of a liveable planet, we must divest from war and destruction – and invest in a just, ecological and equitable transition.
March for Global Climate Justice. 16 November.
End fossil fuels. End the genocide.