Tens of thousands of people protested across France Saturday to call for more attention to the climate crisis in the runup to presidential polls next month.
“Look up,” read one message in giant orange letters demonstrators held up in Paris, urging politicians to make protecting the planet a priority.
In May of 2017, Emmanuel Macron took over the presidency of France on a centrist, business-focused platform. On the eve of the French presidential elections, the protesters are hoping they can push politicians to do more.
It was barely a month into his tenure that a newly elected Macron spoke the words that would come to define his tenure as president (or so he hopes): “Make our planet great again.”
Since then Macron has attempted to brand France as the world leader in fighting climate change but statistics show the French are well behind their own goals.
Thousands march in climate protests across France and demand change
Organisers said 80,000 protesters took part across the country, including 32,000 people in Paris.
NGOs and activists demonstrated throughout France on Sunday to urge President Emmanuel Macron to do more to tackle climate change. They claimed a new bill aimed at slashing emissions does not go far enough.
The sign was a nod to Netflix hit “Don’t Look Up”, in which astronomers who discover a comet will wipe out the earth try in vain to get politicians to take the threat seriously.
“When are we going to talk about it?” read another sign.
The media is ignoring the issue
The climate crisis took up only 1.5 percent of talking points in media coverage of the election campaign from February 28 to March 6, a recent survey by climate justice NGOs has found.
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Nature is amazing – lets do all we can to protect her.#ActOnClimate #nature #rewilding
— Mike Hudema (@MikeHudema) March 13, 2022
