PICTURES: Extinction Rebellion Inverness makes waves at protest in Invergordon
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Protesters have been raising the issue of fossil fuels at a climate challenge campaign in Invergordon.
The group of activists from Extinction Rebellion (XR) Highlands and Islands are sharing concerns about the consequences of continuing to use oil and coal, by taking part in Make The Wave, a UK–wide action by more than 50 coastal communities.
The group are highlighting the impact of continuing to use fossils fuels, something that they say will see sea level rise and increased flooding in Inverness and many communities around the Moray Firth and Cromarty Firth.
The protests are taking place over the four days leading up to the G7 summit conference in Cornwall, between June 11–13.
A spokesman for Extinction Rebellion in the Highlands said: "Make The Wave is part of a wider set of G7–related actions.
"It sends a clear signal to Boris Johnson and G7 summit delegates representing several billion citizens, that ordinary people demand greater, immediate action to tackle the climate and ecological emergency.
"The action’s focus is on the resulting rise in sea level - we are already drowning in promises, now we demand action. Building higher sea defences is not the answer.
"Tackling emissions, especially our continued dependence on fossil fuels, is what is needed.
"As well as highlighting the global danger of sea level rise, XR Inverness’s action addresses the local impacts of sea level rise as Inverness and many communities around the Moray Firth and Cromarty Firth will be prone to flooding.
"It takes place as part of Make The Wave day one.
XR Inverness want to highlight the connection between global climate warming due to greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels.
"Arctic and Greenland ice sheets and glaciers around the world are melting at accelerated rates due to the global temperature increase."
Elliot Blaauw, 68, pensioner from Alness said: “I’m here for my grandchildren. If we don’t act now to stop global warming from pollution we will all suffer. Young people should not have to pay for our mistakes”
Kate MacLachlan, from Drumnadrochit said: “Boris Johnson recently committed to a 78 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 compared to 1990 levels.
"G7 presents an opportunity to explain exactly how the UK will achieve that target, and to seek similar commitments from the leaders of the world’s richest nations.
"Climate disaster, like Covid, respects no national boundaries so support from the G7 to the global south to reduce their emissions is also essential.”
XR Inverness hold its next meeting on Wednesday June 16 to join, sign up via https://extinctionrebellion.uk/act-now/local-groups/
