NYC Climate Protests: In the lead-up to the U.N. assembly, a massive crowd assembled in Midtown on Sunday, imploring President Biden and other global figures to cease all new endeavors related to oil and gas extraction.
On a scorching Sunday, the streets of Midtown Manhattan were packed with scores of people, from the young to the elderly, all united by the urgent call for an immediate and comprehensive move away from the fossil fuels that are accelerating global warming.
President Biden, who arrived in the city on Sunday evening for a series of fundraising events and to address the United Nations General Assembly commencing Tuesday, was the primary target of the demonstrators’ wrath.
Emma Buretta, a 17-year-old NYC high school student and a Fridays for Future activist, boldly warned Biden in a pre-march rally, “You should fear us. If you desire our votes, if you wish to avoid our generations’ blood on your hands, ban fossil fuels.”
Despite the Biden administration passing the nation’s most progressive climate legislation and striving to shift to renewable energy sources like wind and solar, it continues to greenlight new oil and gas drilling initiatives, primarily due to legal obligations.
This has sparked outrage among many of Biden’s longtime backers and left-leaning Democratic Party members, who are pushing for him to declare a climate emergency and prohibit any new fossil fuel production.
New York’s Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez earned cheers at the march’s conclusion when she stated that taking action on climate change is “a political and popular force that cannot be overlooked.”
While the protesters hinted that their support for Biden in the 2024 elections will hinge on more assertive climate measures, none of the Republican contenders vying for his position have plans to reduce the nation’s emissions, with several even promoting increased drilling efforts. Frontrunner and former President Donald Trump completely dismisses the notion of global warming.
A spokesperson from the White House referred to last year’s groundbreaking climate legislation as proof of Biden’s dedication to combatting climate change, saying, “From day one, President Biden has treated climate change as the existential threat of our era.”
Recent climate protests aiming to halt the growth of fossil fuel use have indicated a more precise objective from climate advocates who are increasingly upset with the uninterrupted expansion of drilling and excavation. The industry argues that the main issue is emissions rather than the fuels themselves, claiming that developing technologies can be used to capture and bury carbon dioxide. Scientific predictions and the International Energy Agency suggest that approval for new oil, gas, and coal projects must cease for atmospheric warming to stay within safer levels.
Megan Bloomgren, a vice president at the American Petroleum Institute, represented the oil and gas industry’s perspective, stating in an email that while the urgency of tackling climate change is recognized, eliminating America’s energy options isn’t the correct approach. She asserted this would increase energy costs and reduce reliability, leaving American families and businesses dependent on unstable foreign regions.
The protest in New York exceeded expectations in terms of turnout, following a series of climate demonstrations worldwide. These protests, the biggest since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, coincided with the hottest summer on record and record profits for oil and gas companies.
The participants covered a broad spectrum of society – people with disabilities, parents with babies, health workers, activists, religious leaders, scientists, students, and more. Protesters travelled to New York from all across the globe carrying unique homemade signs and banners. A group from Boston displayed a banner, spanning a city block, which symbolized the consistent warming of the Earth’s atmosphere since the start of the industrial era.
Brenna Two Bears, an Indigenous activist, expressed her motivation for participating in the protest, emphasizing the need to halt the exploitation of earth’s resources for the greed of corporations and billionaires. Mary Robinson, the former Irish president and current climate campaigner, criticized the $7 trillion subsidies that governments globally provided last year to oil and gas drilling.
The weekend’s peaceful marches contrast with recent more radical climate protests which included disrupting a U.S. Open tennis match and vandalizing oil company buildings. Further acts of disobedience are slated for Lower Manhattan on Monday NYC Climate Protests.
Protesters are particularly incensed about the upcoming U.N. climate negotiations being held in the United Arab Emirates, an oil-rich country, and being supervised by Sultan al-Jaber, head of Emirati state-owned oil company, ADNOC.
Sunday’s protest also served as a platform to convey a strong message to President Biden as he commences his re-election campaign. Activists urged the president to utilize his unique position to lead the battle against fossil fuels on a global scale.
Despite expressing anger, protesters also managed to maintain a spirit of celebration. Michelle Joni, a Brooklyn resident, brought a “dance hub” to the event – a revamped school bus equipped with a dance floor, aimed at fostering connection and joy as fuel for ending fossil fuel dependence NYC Climate Protests.
Understanding Climate Week – NYC Climate Protests
As we experience a surge in natural calamities, it seems as though almost every week this summer can be dubbed climate week. Climate Week NYC stands out as one of the most impactful annual events addressing global warming. It attracts influencers from all sectors – governments, businesses, academia, and nonprofits – and is filled with dialogues and panel discussions. This event conveniently coincides with the U.N. General Assembly, becoming a platform for major climate discussions that are planned for each fall. Countries and corporations seize this opportunity to display their commitment to environmental causes.
Now celebrating its 15th anniversary, the event, organized by the nonprofit, the Climate Group, is scheduled for Sept. 17-24 this year.
Who are the prominent attendees?
Several prominent U.S. politicians, including Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) and California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), are confirmed attendees. Notably, Newsom’s state recently launched a comprehensive lawsuit against some of the biggest oil and gas firms over damage from storms and wildfires.
Top climate change advocates, namely U.S. special climate envoy John F. Kerry, senior adviser John Podesta, and White House national climate adviser Ali Zaidi, will represent the White House.
