Edinburgh sees thousands march for climate justice

A person dressed as a polar bear is holding up a placard saying “I’m Melting”. Image credit: Simi Borovska.

Thousands of protesters marched through Edinburgh demanding action against the climate crisis on Saturday 12 November.

It was one of over 40 mass mobilisations across the UK organised by the Climate Justice Coalition as part of the Global Day of Action, which was called by Egyptian activists to coincide with the Cop27 conference.

“It’s really important to keep coming out and representing your views, especially ahead of these global summits,” one protester said.

A woman is holding up a sign which reads “COOL IT”. Image credit: Simi Borovska.

The march started at noon at St Andrew Square and made several stops along the way.

At Hanover Street, activists stopped by HSBC and Santander offices to call on the banks to cancel all debt to countries in the global south and to stop investing in fossil fuels.

Activists put up placards with names of political prisoners in Egypt along Market Street and demanded their release.

Egypt, the host of the climate conference, has been criticised for their treatment of political dissidents, such as British-Egyptian pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, who went on a seven-month long hunger strike in prison.

Before the march ended in front of the Scottish Parliament, the crowd stopped at the UK Government’s offices near Haymarket and called for the end of the proposed Rosebank oil and gas field off the coast of the Shetlands.

A crown of climate activists is marching along the Waverly Station in Edinburgh. Image credit: Simi Borovska.

Sarah and Lydia Gooding, mother and daughter, came to the protest because they “want a future for our children and our children’s children and we just want the system to change,” said Lydia, Sarah’s daughter.

Sarah agreed: “Where is everybody? They’re out shopping, aren’t they? They’re like ah it’s not going to happen.

“But we were just discussing, you gotta keep fighting and hope that this will change.”

They both said they were pleasantly surprised to see many older people marching.

“They’re fighting for their kids, their grandkids, it’s not their future, essentially, they’re fighting for others,” said Lydia.

Judy Walters is part of the older generation of activists: “The head of the UN said it all really, didn’t he?

“We’re on a highway to hell if we don’t do something and act fast, so I’m doing what little bits I can in my own life, so I’m here today just to support action.

“As Greta Thunberg said, blah blah blah isn’t enough, we need some action, so that’s why we’re here.”

Graeme Frances is a climate activist as well as a member of the tenant’ union Living Rent: “Homes are a right not for profit, just like the planet is a right for everyone and not for profit.”

“I am sick of climate change, it’s unseasonably warm just now, it’s an August day in November,” said Frances.

The Met Office said the Armistice Day, the Friday before the march, was the hottest Armistice Day on record with temperatures reaching to nearly 20C.