THE RECENT government announcement for more than 100 new oil and gas licences led to a protest by Extinction Rebellion today when they set up a banner drop on the footbridge near St Mark’s Road.
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The International Energy Agency had previously warned all governments that there was sufficient coal, gas, and oil already in the ‘pipeline’ and that no new developments were needed if countries were to reach net zero by 2050.
Extinction Rebellion activist, Dr Richard Sharp said: "What is it going to take? After more than 30 years of warnings from scientists, still we fail to react. My grandchild and their children deserve so much more from our generation and the politicians we have elected. It will sadly take more than a banner drop."
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Dr Sharp said: “How can we work to use our influence to encourage other governments to reduce emissions when we take such positions at home?
"After more than 40 years of warnings from scientists, atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases have risen to record levels, global land temperatures are at record levels, oceans temperatures are at a record and polar icecaps are melting at record rates.
“We are close and maybe already past the point of holding global temperature increases to 1.5 C, yet governments still think its ok to continue with the relentless exploitation of fossil fuels."
In 2022, the Government also gave the green light for a new coal mine in Cumbria and cancelled support for onshore wind farms.
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