Moray activists warn G20 against 'heads in the sand' approach on world crisis
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MORAY Extinction Rebellion (XR) members formed part of a Highland beach protest yesterday to warn world leaders against "sticking their heads in the sand" over the climate crisis.
The campaigners held their "Heads in the Sand" action at Nairn's Central Beach ahead of a G20 virtual meeting this weekend – the first since Covid-19 struck – to discuss economic recovery in the wake of the pandemic.
Extinction Rebellion members enacted G20 leaders "sticking their heads in the sand" over the climate and ecological crises and urged them to take the lead on reducing the world’s carbon emissions.
They also called for a "green and just recovery after Covid-19" – seeking assurances that public money will not be used to bail out the fossil fuel industry or a return to "business as usual".
The campaigners claim the G20 nations, collectively responsible for 80% of the world’s carbon emissions, are closing their eyes to the climate crisis, with none on track to meet commitments under the 2016 Paris Agreement.
Rachel Winter, of Forres XR, said: "We are at a crossroads now. Governments can choose to bow to the corporate lobbyists and bail out large corporations that damage the health of people and the planet – or they can choose to grab this historic opportunity to set the world on an ambitious new path to a just recovery and make a huge leap in the fight against climate breakdown.
"Decisions made at the G20 meeting will have a huge effect on the health and wellbeing of people around the world.
"This is a time to be decisive in saving lives and bold in charting a path to a healthier and more equitable future: to use massive amounts of taxpayers’ recovery money to help create new jobs for those who will be left high and dry by the oil industry when it inevitably declines; to invest in clean public transport that can benefit everyone; to massively fund renewable energy; and to help communities at risk of climate impacts to adapt and grow more resilient.
"It is time for our leaders to get their heads out of the sand. The clock is ticking."
