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BERLIN – Climate activists from the “Fridays for Future” movement staged a protest in Berlin’s government district on Thursday evening, targeting Chancellor Friedrich Merz for his decision to skip the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey.
Activists utilized light projections to display large images of the CDU leader on a Bundestag building. The projections featured slogans such as “Merzless Climate Summit” and “We show Merz what the future is.”
Reasons for Absence Unclear
Chancellor Merz officially canceled his attendance at the summit, which begins on Monday, citing “other obligations.” A government spokesperson in Berlin declined to provide specific details regarding the cancellation, referring only to “various interests and scheduling situations.”
Members of the climate movement expressed strong disapproval of the decision. “That Merz is not going to the climate conference shows once again that he is completely indifferent to the future of young people,” a representative from Fridays for Future stated. “The Chancellor is giving up on us, but we will never give up on our future.”
Concerns Over Global Climate Action
Luisa Neubauer, a prominent figure in the climate movement, previously labeled the Chancellor’s absence an “absolute breach of taboo,” particularly following a year marked by record-breaking heat and numerous climate-related disasters across Europe.
The COP31 conference is set to host delegations from nearly 200 nations over the next two weeks. Tens of thousands of diplomats, media representatives, and lobbyists are expected to attend the event, which focuses on strategies to curb global warming and provide support to vulnerable nations.
Further Protests Planned
Following the demonstration in Berlin, the Fridays for Future initiative has announced plans for further protests to take place on November 13 across more than 70 locations throughout Germany.
Source: Stuttgarter Nachrichten
