PORTUGAL: On Saturday, hundreds of demonstrators enraged by the climate issue came to the streets of Lisbon, with dozens storming a building where Portugal’s Economy Minister Antonio Costa e Silva was speaking and demanding the resignation of the former oil executive.
Protesters called for climate action while waving banners and chanting slogans. Outside, they yelled, “Out Costa e Silva!” as some protesters stormed the premises.
The demonstrators were hauled by police out of the building. The minister reportedly exited the premises through a back entrance, according to a Portuguese television station. The economy ministry chose not to respond.
Portugal’s protest happened as representatives from nearly 200 nations gathered in Egypt for the COP27 U.N. climate summit, where they hoped to maintain the goal of preventing the worst effects of climate change.
However, not all campaigners are confident that COP27 will find a solution. When asked about COP27, many people claimed that the conference was insufficient to solve the problem.
A 23-year-old student named Joao Duarte accused governments of favouring the “monetary interests” of large corporations rather than placing climate change at the forefront of the political agenda.
He stated, “There will be no change until governments stop being best friends and allies of the big companies.”
In a report released on Tuesday, United Nations experts claimed that promises made by businesses, banks, and cities to achieve net-zero emissions are frequently little more than “green-washing.”
“The situation is serious and urgent,” said Marta Leandro, vice president of the Portuguese environmental organisation Quercus, at the demonstration in Lisbon.
“What we do or do not do in this decade will have a great impact on climate security,” Leandro further added.
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