All the actors behind the protests – and how far they want to go

In the beginning there was Greta. With the then 15-year-old school strike for the climate, which she carried out for the first time in front of the Swedish parliament in August 2018, a worldwide movement has emerged that has also affected Switzerland. The climate strike, in particular, quickly mobilized thousands of people in this country.

This initially well-behaved student, apprentice, and student association has been visibly more rebellious for the past two years. After the occupation of Bundesplatz, where movements like the climate strike and Extinction Rebellion joined forces in 2020 at the latest, activists no longer shy away from illegal actions. Cyrill Hermann (19) says that everyone today agrees that more than just demonstrations are needed.

But where are the borders? The climate strike spokesperson believes that what is necessary must be done. But as before, any violence against living things is taboo.

Current crises have a stimulating effect

After losing so much momentum during the pandemic months, the climate movement is now gaining more popularity again. “This summer has demonstrated once again how severe the climate crisis will be. At the same time, the situation is not getting any easier because of the war, the energy crisis and inflation – this has a stimulating effect,” says Hermann.

The climate movement has been re-emerging for several weeks – among other things, rallies against the planned reserve gas plant at Birr AG or a poster campaign on the federal terrace on Monday. But most of the attention and the most heated discussion was attracted by activists from Renovate Switzerland, who stuck themselves to the asphalt and blocked traffic in some cities.

There are now several organizations dedicated to climate activism in this country. Overview:

extinction rebellion

Extinction Rebellion (XR for short), created in the UK in 2018, now has branches worldwide. From the beginning, activists used civil disobedience and breaking the law to draw attention to their concerns. They always wear flashy clothes, occupy public places, streets and institutions, or run colorful campaigns. For example, in 2019 they colored the Limmat with Zurich green. XR also created a stir in Zurich in 2021, when the organization held sit-ins for several days. Several activists have already appeared in court. Recently, things have calmed down a bit in the group. In October, XR members took part in the aforementioned demonstration against the planned natural gas plant in Birr.

climate strike

The climate strike movement emerged from the Friday school strikes that first took place in December 2018. Since then, the association has called for numerous demonstrations and, among other things, together with scientists, has drawn up a climate action plan that proposes solutions to the problem of global warming. According to spokesperson Hermann, the climate strike is in close contact with other groups such as Extinction Rebellion, but is critical of Renovate’s roadblocks – at least, according to Hermann: “We don’t want to get the population on board and scare them away. The climate strike seeks to direct civil disobedience not at the general population, but at those who hold the levers: finance, government, corporations. » However, the climate strike is also planning a radicalization in which opinions will certainly differ: schools and universities will be occupied next year.

renew switzerland

Renovate activists made their first public appearance in April this year and have since shut down the streets multiple times, most recently in October. Other professors or retired dentists participate in the activities of this group. According to their own statements, many of them had no previous experience of civil resistance, some had previously participated in Extinction Rebellion. Renovate also differs from other organizations in that it fulfills one specific requirement of the Federal Council: it must advance the thermal refurbishment of buildings. The group is currently awaiting a response to the open letter to Environment Minister Simonetta Sommaruga asking him or his successor to speak to them. Renovate spokesperson Cécile Bessire said no further blockades were planned until then.

Debt to Climate

The grouping was inspired by an international campaign launched by people from South America and Africa this summer. It demands that poor countries get rid of their debt so they can leave fossil fuels unused. In October, members of Debt for Climate used wooden structures to block access to an oil refinery in Cressier NE.

climate grandfather

The grandparents association takes part in climate demos, but also organizes public campaigns on their own, for example, on the circular economy. In addition, so-called climate inkwells are organized in schools or participation in project days is ensured. The first regional groups in German-speaking Switzerland were formed in 2019.