Vancouverites join day of global climate action

Crowds gathered in Vancouver on Friday to demand action on climate change.

Following a summer plagued by fire, drought, and severe storms across B.C. and Canada, dozens of people took to the city streets to hold governments accountable for addressing the crisis.

Rally-goers gathered at city hall before they marched through the city.

Joining similar protests across the world, the Vancouver march ended late Friday afternoon in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

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According to the United Nations, an average of $570 billion of public funds are spent every year on fossil fuel subsidies, and this number is increasing. Meanwhile, seven million people die every year due to air pollution and more than 411,000 people have died in violent storms over the past decade.

Addressing the use of fossil fuels as a major contributor to climate change is key in the effort to achieve climate and sustainability goals, the United Nations states.

The protests around the globe were mostly led by a collaboration of the movements Fight Fossil Fuels and Greta Thunberg’s Fridays for Future.

Signs reading “You’ll die of old age, we’ll die of climate change” and “Our climate is changing, why aren’t we?” littered the streets of downtown Vancouver, alongside chants and a strong presence that shut down many local roads.

The Vancouver protest blocked traffic on main throughways such as the Cambie Street Bridge, Smithe Street, and Howe Street.

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School kids demanding #ClimateActionNow pic.twitter.com/PU2eo4QTcl

— David Finnis