HUNDREDS of people took to the streets of Reading on Saturday, November 6, to make some noise about the climate emergency.
A range of groups including politicians, teachers, activists and churches gathered at the Broad Street Mall end of town for 1pm.
Led by Shinfield Baptist Church pastor Nathan Hunt, the group processed along Broad Street and into Market Place, blowing whistles, rattling rattles and shouting slogans.
It was part of a worldwide movement that saw tens of thousands of protestors march through Glasgow, where world leaders are gathering for the United Nations COP26 climate emergency summit.
Its president is Reading West MP Alok Sharma.
Today’s focus is on the creation of sustainable agriculture and land use, and saw 45 governments pledge urgent action and investment to shift towards a more sustainable way of farming.
The UK has pledged to engage three-quarters of farmers in low carbon practices by 2030.
Commitments made by countries today will help to implement the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use which is now endorsed by 134 countries covering 91% of the world’s forests. The Declaration aims to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030.
Mr Sharma told the summit today: “If we are to limit global warming and keep the goal of 1.5ºC alive, then the world needs to use land sustainably and put protection and restoration of nature at the heart of all we do.
“The commitments being made today show that nature and land use is being recognised as essential to meeting the Paris Agreement goals, and will contribute to addressing the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.
“Meanwhile, as we look ahead to negotiations in week two of COP, I urge all parties to come to the table with the constructive compromises and ambitions needed.”
At the Reading march, Mr Hunt led calls for a successful COP26, and to see a temperature increase limited to 1.5ºC.
Afterwards, he said in a post on social media: “Thank you to all those who joined the March 4 Climate today in the middle of COP26. It was a wonderful, colourful, peaceful (but noisy) event for all those who care about this world, its people and all its creatures.
“Thanks to all those who made it happen and came and supported it.”
Among those taking part was Reading East MP Matt Rodda, who said the event has been wonderful.
“It’s been a sign of people’s commitment to tackling the dangerous climate change. Our community are working together to try and tackle this very difficult problem that we all face,” he added.
For more on the event, see Wednesday’s print edition of Reading Today, on sale in all good newsagents, supermarkets and petrol stations across Reading.
