By Jayden Whitworth
People gathered in numbers in Leicester city centre in protest against the lack of climate action on Friday (FEB 11), amidst an ongoing battle against global warming.
Climate Strike Leicester organised the event which included special guest speakers and music, alongside the traditional march through Leicester city centre.
The group, who were celebrating their three-year anniversary, started the protest at the clock tower, before marching down towards Jubilee Square.
The team is largely made up of children under the age of 18.
At Jubilee Square, Climate Strike Leicester had invited guest speakers from Climate Action Leicester and Leicester Green Party to speak, plus there was music from Extinction Rebellion.
Tyler Grant-Hooley, 16, co-ordinator at Climate Strike Leicester, said: “The focus of climate action should really be put on governments and big corporations and not on individuals.
“We are asking the Government to put money and put resources into finding these solutions and find a fair climate plan that will benefit everyone in society.”
The protest started in the wake of COP26 at the back end of last year with growing calls for climate action across the UK.
At the end of COP26 – the Glasgow climate pact – saw leaders pledge to keep pursuing efforts to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C per year.
After tense negotiations, the countries ultimately agreed on moving away from fossil fuels and to phase-down the use of coal power.
Mags Lewis, secretary of Leicester Green Party, said: “These events are crucial, they bring us together and show us the importance of solidarity.
“The COP26 outcome was heartening in some ways, you’ve got to have hope, but I think there was a lack of tangible action.
“I agree with Greta Thunberg, the temperature is still rising.
“Whatever we are doing, is still not enough.”
Leicester City Council is committed to reducing carbon emissions in and around the city and has set the target of reaching net zero by 2030/2031.
Deputy City Mayor Cllr Adam Clarke, who leads on environment and transportation, said: “We are under no illusion about the huge task that we face as a city to become carbon neutral by 2030, or sooner.
“The launch of the first Leicester Climate Emergency Strategy in 2020 signalled a shift in our ambitions and we have since made massive investment in a range of new and ambitious programmes and projects to further reduce the city’s carbon footprint and help Leicester achieve its goal of being carbon neutral by 2030.”
Last year, Leicester City Council was successful in its bid to receive more than £24 million in funding to improve energy efficiency and cut the city’s carbon footprint.
Cllr Clarke said: “It is an ambitious programme of investment that will help us dramatically cut carbon emissions from our buildings and save hundreds of thousands of pounds in energy costs – something that is very welcome in these challenging times.”
To find out more about the Climate Strike Leicester, visit their facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/climatestrikeleicester
Thank you so much for doing this article and helping to change the narrative!! Climate justice now!