Virtual Climate March in Paris

By Kelly Jirsa

Pairs of shoes are symbolically placed on the Place de la Republique, after the cancellation of a planned climate march following shootings in the French capital, ahead of the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21)
Tens of thousands of shoes are being placed in the Place de la Republique to represent the protesters who would have taken part in the climate rally scheduled for the weekend.

Thousands of people rallied in 175 countries around the world on the weekend, ahead of the UN Climate Change Summit beginning today. Due to security concerns and the continued state of emergency in Paris post the 13 November terrorist attack, Parisians were forbidden to march but instead took to building an installation of shoes in their place. Among the donations to the virtual march were the shoes of Pope Francis and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

There is growing concern amongst the scientific community that the new international climate deals, set to be established in Paris, will be a collection of good intentions without the legal bind needed to make real change possible.

With 2015 being the hottest year on record and still no internationally binding agreement, the pressure from citizens is on. People are taking to the streets more regularly across major cities to urge governments into action.

There is some expectation that the recent tragic events in Paris and growing pressure from citizens will galvanise delegates into deeper international cooperation this week.

 

 

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