NEW YORK: In a resounding display of climate activism, tens of thousands of people gathered in New York City to demand immediate action against climate change, just before the opening of the United Nations General Assembly. The protest, organized by approximately 700 organizations and activist groups, saw passionate demonstrators declaring that the fate of humanity hinged on ending the use of fossil fuels. Signs and chants bore messages like “Fossil fuels are killing us” and “I didn’t vote for fires and floods,” underscoring the urgent need for change.
Protesters directed their concerns toward United States President Joe Biden, who is seeking re-election next year. They urged him to halt approvals for new oil and gas projects, phase out existing ones, and declare a climate emergency with expanded executive powers. 17-year-old Emma Buretta from Brooklyn, representing the youth protest group Fridays for Future, emphasized the power of the people in influencing the upcoming elections, urging an end to fossil fuels to secure a better future.
The demonstration, known as the March to End Fossil Fuels, marked the beginning of New York’s Climate Week, where leaders from various sectors gather to address the pressing issue of climate change. Organizers estimated the event drew around 75,000 participants. Notable figures such as US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and actors Susan Sarandon, Ethan Hawke, Edward Norton, Kyra Sedgwick, and Kevin Bacon were present to support the cause.
Ocasio-Cortez delivered an impassioned speech, highlighting the global movement demanding an end to practices harmful to the planet. She emphasized the importance of sending a message that the current and future generations will not accept inaction on climate change. A recent UN climate report set 2025 as the crucial deadline for global greenhouse gas emissions to peak and sharply decline to align with the goals of the 2015 Paris Treaty.
The report stressed the need for immediate and intensified climate action on all fronts. Achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, another Paris Agreement goal necessitates phasing out the burning of fossil fuels without emissions capture or compensation. Activists like Analilia Mejia, director of the Center for Popular Democracy, emphasized the urgency for the world to wake up and take decisive action in the face of the ongoing existential climate crisis.
While acknowledging President Biden’s efforts to promote green manufacturing and invest in clean energy projects, some activists, particularly the youth, believe more forceful actions are required to steer the US away from fossil fuel dependence. The United States has a significant share of planned oil and gas drilling up to 2050, underscoring the need for the country to take a leading role in transitioning to sustainable alternatives.
