Organisers today revealed that over 570,000 people have marched in 2,300 events in 175 countries across the world, making it the biggest set of global marches in history, two times last year’s runner up total.
Emma Ruby-Sachs, Campaign Director of Avaaz said:
“The charge from the streets for leaders to act on climate has been deafening, with record numbers turning out across the world. Over 570,000 people are calling with one voice for global leaders to deliver a 100% clean energy future at the Paris climate summit. Despite events being cancelled across France, global actions were larger than last year’s massive march in New York, breaking records in Bangladesh, Australia, Britain and more.”
This number of 570,000 is still provisional and could rise further with big marches in Mexico City, Ottawa and Vancouver still to come in later today, which are likely to take the total count well over 600,000. These events came despite the Paris event, where 400,000 were expected to march today, being cancelled. Instead, Avaaz laid out 22,000 shoes donated by citizens unable to take to the streets in the French capital.
Key facts from this weekend:
More than 10 countries witnessed their biggest-ever climate marches with Australia (140,000, including 60,000 in Melbourne), New Zealand (33,000), Bangladesh, Britain (over 50,000 in London), Italy (over 20,000 in Rome), Spain (over 20,000 in Madrid), Denmark (over 10,000 in Copenhagen), Greece (over 3,000 in Athens), Switzerland (over 5,000 in Geneva), and Austria (over 2,000 in Vienna).
In addition to these big city marches which organisers have calculated 440,000 marchers, at least 130,000 additional people marched in over 1000 other events taking place in smaller cities, towns, and villages around the world.
A march took place in Sanaa, Yemen, despite bombs falling close to the start of the march; dozens of towns and cities marched across India; nuns marched in South Korea; there were powerful marches in the the Pacific islands — New Caledonia and the Marshall Islands; people marched in cities in Senegal, the Gambia, Cote d’Ivoire, and Nigeria; and in Kenya there was a march across the Equator.
