Friends of the Earth calls for climate justice at UN talks

In every corner of the world people will be mobilising today to demand climate justice and greater ambition at the ongoing UN climate talks in Brazil.

Friends of the Earth will be joining demonstrations happening both across the UK and in Belém where the talks are taking place.

With extreme weather events, such as storms, floods, droughts and heatwaves, increasingly hitting communities in the UK and overseas, climate action has never been more urgent.  

This year’s summit, which kicked off earlier this week, is a key milestone in the negotiations. It marks ten years since the landmark Paris Agreement was signed, which saw world leaders commit to a goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.  

Last year was confirmed as the hottest year on record, while also being the first full calendar year to exceed 1.5°C warming globally. Breaching the 1.5°C target over a sustained period could trigger multiple climate tipping points that will dangerously destabilise our climate and exacerbate extreme weather worldwide.

Friends of the Earth’s chief executive Asad Rehman, who is joining the march in Belém today along with the broader Friends of the Earth International delegation, said:

“2025 is on course to be yet another of the hottest years on record. As we sit teetering on the edge of permanently surpassing 1.5°C warming, there’s no doubt we’re in the decisive decade for climate action.

“Lives are already being destroyed by the climate emergency – from the devastating typhoon in the Philippines or Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, to erosion on England’s east coast. And it’s hitting those who’ve done least to cause this crisis the hardest.

"That’s why we’ll be marching in Belém, alongside people across the world who are demanding that politicians match their lofty words with urgent, meaningful action.

"As one of the world’s biggest historical polluters, the UK has a responsibility to contribute its fair share to global climate action and help steer the talks to success. That means honouring UK climate targets, delivering justice for front line communities through climate finance and ambition that matches the scale of crisis, making polluters pay to help fund the green transition, and supporting the global effort to end global deforestation." 

Friends of the Earth local groups will also be taking to the streets in towns and cities around the UK today, including London, Newcastle and Manchester (full list of locations in the notes section). They will be standing in solidarity with those on the front lines of climate breakdown and demanding the UK government goes much further and faster in tackling the climate emergency, with ending global deforestation a key priority. 

Friends of the Earth’s demands include:

1.    Honouring the UK’s climate targets and delivering a fair and just transition
2.    Providing justice for communities on the front lines of climate breakdown in the UK and overseas
3.    Making polluters pay to help fund a cleaner, fairer future
4.    Strengthening international ambition for ending global deforestation  

Friends of the Earth has written a media briefing on the UN climate talks.  

ENDS

Thousands will be demonstrating as part of Friends of the Earth’s network across the UK in key locations. These include:

• London – Bexley Friends of the Earth, Brent Friends of the Earth, Bromley Friends of the Earth, Cambridge Friends of the Earth, Camden Friends of the Earth, Hackey Friends of the Earth, Haringey Friends of the Earth, Hillingdon Friends of the Earth, Luton Friends of the Earth, Lambeth Friends of the Earth, Merton Friends of the Earth, New Forest Friends of the Earth, Norwich Friends of the Earth, Southwark Friends of the Earth, Stevenage Friends of the Earth, Richmond & Twickenham Friends of the Earth, Uxbridge Friends of the Earth, Islington Environmental Alliance, Climate Action Lewisham, Wanstead Climate Action, Westminster Citizens Climate Action Network. The London Friends of the Earth staff and local groups will be meeting at Embankment Gardens, EC4Y 0DS at 11am for a photo opportunity.
• Birmingham – Birmingham Friends of the Earth, Bristol Friends of the Earth, Leicester Friends of the Earth, Warwickshire Climate Alliance
• Leeds – Leeds Friends of the Earth
• Manchester – Manchester Friends of the Earth, Chester Friends of the Earth, High Peak Green New Deal, Climate Action Preston
• Newcastle – Durham Friends of the Earth, Climate Action Newcastle, Alnwick Climate Action, Divest Tyne & Wear, Grandparents for Climate Action Durham
• Plymouth – Exeter Friends of the Earth
• Portsmouth – Havant Friends of the Earth, Portsmouth Friends of the Earth
• Southampton – Southampton Friends of the Earth
• Swansea – Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth

To find out what’s happening in your area, you can visit Climate Justice Coalition’s map.