The much-anticipated U.N. climate summit will push through as planned, but changes will have to be made following the terrorist attacks that transpired in Paris on Friday night, Nov. 13, French officials say.
With less than two weeks to go before the conference, France is looking at banning rallies so as to avoid the formation of large crowds, which may be easy targets for such attacks. Activists, however, want to march as planned.
Event organizers from approximately 130 non-governmental groups have been expecting to gather about 200,000 people to the march, which will take place on Nov. 29, the eve of the Paris climate conference. The march was set to begin at the Place de la Republique, in an area where some of the recent terrorist attacks took place.
Organizers have been hoping to create a festival-like atmosphere that aims to put pressure on world leaders to step up their actions and address climate change.
Part of the goal is to match the peaceful march on climate change that happened in New York in 2014 which, according to activists, drew approximately 310,000 people.
A meeting on Monday, Nov. 16, was set by climate activists to decide the final course of action for the march. Mainstream activists say they will follow the government's call, specifically the ban on rallies, should the state of emergency extend throughout the time of the conference.
"It is for the French presidency to decide on the way forward, and we will make changes to our plans as appropriate," said the aid charity Oxfam.
For Nicolas Haeringer, a climate activist from 350.org, however, the climate justice movement has always been "a movement for peace."
"The tragedy in Paris has only strengthened our resolve," Haeringer said. 350.org hopes to have a dialogue with French authorities on how the activists can continue with their march.
French law upholds that a state of emergency can last up to 12 days but may be extended should the need arise.
France has confirmed that the Paris climate summit will push through, with world leaders, including United States President Barack Obama, reaffirming plans to attend.
In the event that rallies are cancelled altogether, one option is to push through with parallel demonstrations in Tokyo, Sydney, New Delhi or London.
Event organizers say they are also hoping to find a way to include a memorial ceremony for the victims of the Paris attack, along with calls to protect the planet and its people from the effects of climate change, such as sea level rise, droughts and floods.
Photo: Day Donaldson | Flickr
