Extinction Rebellion Forres 'Climate Emergency' banner drop over A96 marking the start of COP26
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A LOCAL environmentalist group has marked the start of the United Nations Climate Change Conference with a banner drop over one of the area's busiest roads.
Extinction Rebellion (XR) Forres explained that the slogans on either side of the footbridge over the A96 at Findhorn Road, 'Climate Emergency' and 'Climate Justice = Social Justice', signify the urgency needed to tackle the threat, described as a "code red for humanity" following a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Local activist, Allan Gray, confirmed a number of XR Forres members are attending COP26 and a Climate Justice march on Saturday, November 6.
He said: "The banner is intended to bring attention to drivers of the emergency we are in and the standards of response we should expect from Government.
"We hope it prompts conversation in homes about the urgency of the climate emergency and the consequences which will be felt globally, including here in Forres.
"Maybe more people will write to their MP, MSP and councillors about speaking out and taking action."
COP26 is being held in Glasgow between October 31 and November 12. The event is the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the third meeting of the parties to the Paris Agreement.
It is the first time that parties are expected to commit to enhanced ambition since COP21. Parties are required to carry out every five years, as outlined in the Paris Agreement, a process colloquially known as the 'ratchet mechanism'.
The venue for the conference is the SEC Centre. Originally due to be held in November 2020 at the same venue, the event was postponed for 12 months because of the covid-19 pandemic in Scotland.
