Wow! Just Wow! 700 marches, 600,000 people on 7 continents demand #EndFossilFuels

C: Survival Media Agency

The turnout wildly exceeded expectations, proof that this summer’s record heat, mega floods, and severe weather are putting the climate crisis, and the fight against fossil fuels, at the forefront of peoples’ minds. The turnout was global.

Over seven hundred climate protests and marches were held in over 60 countries over the weekend, with an estimated six hundred thousand people demanding urgent action on climate and the ending of fossil fuels.

Demonstrations were held from Antarctica to the North Pole. On seven continents, mothers, daughters, dads, kids, their grandparents, concerned citizens, politicians and scientists all came together united in solidarity demanding the end of the fossil fuel age.

This week by the numbers:

600,000 people.
700 actions.
65 countries.
All 7 continents.

THIS. IS. INCREDIBLE.

But numbers don't do it justice. This is a big, beautiful climate movement & we're calling on world leaders to #EndFossilFuels NOW. No more talk, we need action! pic.twitter.com/NAWdoZQDj4

— Oil Change International (@PriceofOil) September 17, 2023

The message to world leaders was united and emphatic: a commitment to phase out fossil fuels at the UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ upcoming Global Climate Ambition Summit, which starts in New York City on September 20.

Under the hashtags,  #EndFossilFuels #FastFairForever, march after march, protest after protest, argued that this meeting in New York presents a critical opportunity for tangible action to keep fossil fuels in the ground. Literally, from all corners of the world people screamed: It is time to keep it in the ground.

It was a message to all politicians, but particularly for President Biden. Climate leadership starts at home. Recent OCI research, published last week, revealed that the United States is the Planet Wrecker In Chief, accounting for more than one-third of planned global oil and gas expansion through 2050.

Also, last week an open letter published by some 400 scientists implored Joe Biden to endorse the demands of this weekend’s March to End Fossil Fuels in New York—which include halting new fossil fuel projects, ending oil and gas drilling on public lands, and declaring a climate emergency.

Protesters on the March to End Fossil Fuels in New York were led by indigenous communities from across the US. They shouted, “Climate justice, climate justice”. Addressing the speakers were politicians, activists, celebrities and scientists:

What a thing of beauty.

Thousands & thousands & thousands marching through the streets of NYC to demand an end to fossil fuels. pic.twitter.com/aVACMJsaE6

— Stop the Money Pipeline (@StopMoneyPipe) September 17, 2023

Ugandan climate activist @vanessa_vash spoke at Sunday’s March to End Fossil Fuels in New York City calling on global north countries to act on climate justice. “The United States alone accounts for more than one-third of planned global oil and gas expansion through 2050.” pic.twitter.com/ynVCtybHZ4

— Democracy Now! (@democracynow) September 18, 2023

AOC is on fire: We will not give up. We will not let go. We will not allow cynicism to prevail. #ClimateAction #EndFossilFuels pic.twitter.com/9O9tCziaeo

— People vs. Fossil Fuels (@FightFossils) September 17, 2023

now @ClimateHuman says he has two kids in high school. "I'm terrified for their future – I'm terrified for MY future right now."

"We are so clearly in a fucking climate emergency. Why won't Biden declare it?" pic.twitter.com/HLUutfwG4c

— 𝕯𝖍𝖆𝖗𝖓𝖆 𝕹𝖔𝖔𝖗 (@dharnanoor) September 17, 2023

“As a daughter, as a human, as a mother, I AM LIVID!” Says @Analilia_Mejia from @CPDAction pic.twitter.com/RXbHEKIA3q

— Oil Change International (@PriceofOil) September 17, 2023

“The US accounts for 1/3 of all new oil and gas expansion,” says @SusanSarandon citing our latest data #EndFossilFuels 👉 https://t.co/YirGEnNi5s pic.twitter.com/1v6SYyZA8G

— Oil Change International (@PriceofOil) September 17, 2023

Hearing from a resident of Cancer Alley, Louisiana at the #MarchToEndFossilFuels demanding Biden phase out fossil fuels and discussing the deadly affects it has on her community pic.twitter.com/eJuKpyVt1K

— Climate Defenders (@ClimateDEF) September 17, 2023

Summing up the day, Allie Rosenbluth, United States Program Manager at OCI said: “Today we marched as a united front, driven by unprecedented heat, alarming droughts, extreme floods, and consequent loss of livelihoods, homes, and people. Those responsible for the destruction have names.”

Rosenbluth added: “The culprits are fossil fuel companies and their government allies, who choose to expand extraction and continue to profit at our expense”.

The march made the front page of New York Times:

FRONT PAGE NYT ABOVE THE FOLD #EndFossilFuels pic.twitter.com/Nnh3QCpbhf

— Jamie Henn (@jamieclimate) September 18, 2023

But it was not just New York.

Incredible scenes of solidarity to #EndFossilFuels are flooding in from around the world! The global transition to renewable energy must be #FastFairForever. pic.twitter.com/R6AV6cB8XT

— Oil Change International (@PriceofOil) September 17, 2023

Drone footage of the march to #endfossilfuels in Sacramento today ✊✊✊ pic.twitter.com/DCBTI00bv3

— Last Chance Alliance (@LastChance_CA) September 18, 2023

🚨Attention world leaders! We are watching you! A fossil free world is possible, are you willing to listen to the people? #EndFossilFuels #FastFairForever  @CANIntl @fossiltreaty pic.twitter.com/cxCRZkNqgu

— Ina-MariaShikongo (@IMariashikongo) September 17, 2023

📍Lamu, Kenya

We are preparing for the Global Climate strike tomorrow, join us at Mokowe Jetty, 10:00 am

🌞 The climate crisis demands urgent action. Leaders must prioritize a fair and swift phase-out of fossil fuels for the sake of our future generations.@CANIntl pic.twitter.com/8TE8YGf8JL

— Fridays For Future Kenya Official (@fridays_kenya) September 16, 2023

La Red de Clima y Salud de América Latina y el Caribe, el Grupo de Ciencias Sociales por el Clima y amig@s se unen a la Lucha Global para Acabar los #CombustiblesFósiles por la salud de las personas de hoy y mañana.#EndFossilFuels #FastFairForever #FossilFree4Health #climasalud pic.twitter.com/irHXe80mVr

— Red de Clima y Salud América Latina y el Caribe (@SaludClima) September 16, 2023

#EndFossilFuels#FastFairForever
Thank you @CANIntl for taking the lead. Worthy and Timely. https://t.co/5Vm5zDXN4K pic.twitter.com/asdbd8RN5e

— Activista The Gambia (@ActivistaGambia) September 17, 2023

In the Congo, for example, AP reported that “dozens joined a protest march through the city of Goma, shouting slogans and waving banners and placards calling for an end to corporate control of fossil fuels. The Congolese government caused an uproar among environmentalists last year by putting 30 oil and gas blocks up for auction, including 13 blocks crisscrossing through protected areas and national parks.”

Eric Njuguna, a climate activist based in Nairobi, Kenya told Reuters “We’re taking to the streets to demand that African leaders phase out on fossil fuels and focus on investing in community-led renewable energy, to meet the energy demand for the 600 million Africans who do not have access to electricity.”

In the Philippines, Mitzi Jonelle Tan, a climate activist with Fridays for Future in Manila, said “This is directed at world leaders. The fossil fuel industry’s time is up. We need a just transition, and we need to phase out the fossil fuels causing the destruction of our environment.”

People were marching for clean air, clean water, a safe future for their families, communities and kids. People worn down by being on the frontline of fights for ecological and social justice. People are angry at being on the ever-expanding, unpredictable and often catastrophic frontline of climate change.

They have had enough of the lies and deceit of the fossil fuel industry that continues to prioritise profit over people and still does not recognise the severity of the climate crisis we all face. For too long, fossil fuel CEOs and politicians in their pockets have divided and distracted us with falsehoods while they pollute our air, poison our water and dump toxins into our neighbourhoods.

They exploit our differences to pick and choose where to dump toxins based on the contents of our wallets and the color of our skin. Their message to Biden was there is a unique chance to put an end to the expansion of fossil fuels and ensure that we all have clean air to breathe and fresh water to drink.

Politicians can show climate leadership. With a step in the right direction, in the latest legal action against the industry, the state of California is suing five major fossil fuel companies over their contribution to the climate crisis.

If California can show climate leadership, Joe Biden can too. The world, from every continent, is watching and waiting.

The state of California is suing five major fossil fuel companies over their contribution to the climate crisis.

Just listen to these unflinching words by governor @GavinNewsom.

History in the making….#EndFossilFuel pic.twitter.com/Sx7sVNMP01

— Climate Science Breakthrough (@ClimateSciBreak) September 18, 2023