Brussels: 20,000 people march against climate change Four dead in explosion during Catholic mass in the Philippines

At least 20,000 people in Brussels on Sunday called for urgent action on climate change. Slogans such as “We want a livable and healthy planet” could be seen on posters and signs in the Belgian capital.

The organizers, a climate coalition consisting of 90 organizations, spoke of 25,000 participants, while the police estimated the number at 20,000.

“We really need international negotiations to move forward,” climate coalition president Nicolas Van Nuffel told French news agency AFP, referring to the UN climate conference currently taking place in Dubai. His colleagues have ‘very specific demands’, such as accelerating the thermal insulation of houses, expanding cycle paths and more investment in public transport.

The COP28 world climate conference has been taking place in Dubai since November 30. The focus of the two-week meeting is on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially by moving away from fossil fuels and expanding renewable energy sources. It is also about financing climate protection and adaptation to climate impacts and compensating for climate-related damage to developing countries. (sda/afp)