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Hundreds of young people led by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg marched in Milan, Italy, demanding swift climate action in the weeks before the crucial United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) will be held in Glasgow.
The rally was held on Friday as a continuation of the “Friday of the Future” campaign, which took students to the streets of cities around the world two years ago, before the coronavirus pandemic began.
“The hope is not from politicians’ nonsense,” Tunberg said when he was accompanied by Ugandan climate justice activist Vanessa Nakate at a leading rally in Milan.
“Hope does not come from inaction and empty promises that everything will get better. They say believe in us, we are doing our best. This is not hope, hope is this, hope is us, the people, and hope is done when people gather together. Change.”
The 18-year-old climate activist was regarded as a possible Nobel Peace Prize winner on October 8. He attended the official UN COP26 youth edition in Milan, and it is estimated that there will be about 400 people.
The three-day Youth4Climate conference drew criticism from young delegates who accused the organizers of not being interested in their input to the documents that will be sent to the UN Climate Conference this year.
Thunberg lashed out at the climate minister on the first day of the Youth Climate Summit on Tuesday, saying “They pretended that they have a solution to the climate crisis and are taking sufficient action, but we have seen through their lies.”
“Rebuild better, wait, wait, wait. Green economy, bullshit, bullshit, bullshit. Net zero by 2050, wait, wait, wait. Climate neutral, wait, wait, wait Wait. This is everything we hear from the so-called leaders. Words sound great, but no action has been taken so far,” she said.
Since her speech, “nonsense, nonsense, nonsense” has become the slogan of climate justice activists on social media.
Protesters in Milan stated that they hope to see change at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, which begins on October 31.
Al Jazeera’s Milan correspondent Adam Raney said: “They are very frustrated, angry and eager to change.”
“They call on rich countries to increase their spending commitments to poor countries to compete on an equal footing in the fight against climate change.”
On Thursday, Tunberg met with Italian Prime Minister and current G20 Chairman Mario Draghi, and finally pushed world leaders to make a commitment before the climate summit.
The activists’ proposals include requirements for a transparent climate financing system and sustainable and responsible tourism, as well as the complete phase-out of the fossil fuel industry by 2030.
Their proposal will be reviewed at the pre-COP26 meeting of the Minister of Climate and Energy a few days before the Glasgow meeting.
Draghi assured them that their request would not be ignored. “You are right to ask for accountability and change… Your mobilization is strong and reassuring, and we are listening,” he said.
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