Sharjah 24 – AFP: Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Germany Friday to demand greater climate action, organisers said, but turnout for the "Fridays for Future" protests was smaller than in past years.
Demonstrators in cities like Berlin, Hamburg, and Bonn urged Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government to move away from oil, coal, and gas, calling for an end to fossil fuel investments. Many held signs saying "Save Our Future" and "Earth First."
More than 75,000 people participated in around 110 towns and cities across Germany, according to Fridays for Future. Carla Reemtsma, a spokesperson for the movement, stated that mass protests are "the most important way to achieve change," speaking to Bavarian broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk. However, a similar nationwide protest five years ago drew a much larger crowd of 1.4 million.
The Fridays for Future movement began in 2018, inspired by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who protested outside Sweden's parliament every Friday, demanding stronger climate action. The movement quickly grew into global youth strikes and marches, drawing millions. Yet, it became less prominent during the pandemic and has struggled to regain its previous momentum.
This week's protests followed Storm Boris, which brought heavy rains and severe flooding to parts of central and eastern Europe, resulting in 24 fatalities. Berlin demonstrator Sebastian Bock noted that the floods highlighted the immediate impact of climate change, stating, "With the severe floods we've seen, you have to connect them to the fact that they're becoming more frequent due to climate change."
Experts warn that climate change, driven by human-made greenhouse gas emissions, is increasing both the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like heavy rainfall and flooding.
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