65,000 take part in Belgium’s biggest ever climate demonstration

65,000 people took part in the Claim the Climate demonstration that made its way through the streets of Brussels on Sunday afternoon. This makes it the biggest ever march against climate change ever held in Belgium. 

The demonstrators were young and hold, from all corners of the country and from all sections of society. They all demanded one thing: respect for and the implementation the terms agreed at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference. The measure contained in the agreement are designed to limit global warning to a maximum of 1.5°C.      

The demonstration coincides with the opening of the 24th United Nations conference on climate change that opened today in Poland. The march was organised by several organisations including Climate Express, the Climate Coalition and BOS+.

The participants set off from Brussels North Railway Station at around 12 noon passing along the Brussels inner ring road via Madou, to the Wetstraat, Schuman Square and onto the Jubel Park where a number of concerts are being stage by performers sympathetic to the climate change cause.  A number of the participants follow the march route on their bicycles.

The Brussels public transport company MIVB is offering its services free of charge and the Belgian rail company NMBS offered special 5 euro return tickets from anywhere in Belgium to enable those that wish to take part in the demonstration. Many people have taken up the offer of free rail travel. No fewer than 34,000 took advantage of the offer and bought a ticket to Brussels.

Nicolas Maeterlinck

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