Climate activists stage 'die-in' protest in Glasgow city centre
Extinction Rebellion have demanded urgent action after record-breaking temperatures were recorded across the UK
Last updated 23rd Jul 2022
Climate activists have staged a 'die-in' protest in Glasgow to demand urgent climate action after record-breaking temperatures were recorded across the UK.
Extinction Rebellion members descended upon the city's popular Buchanan Street at 11am today.
Campaigners laid placards out on their bodies with the ‘cause of death’ noted, including 'Heat Stress - Death from temperature rising to over 40 degrees' and 'Famine - starvation caused by crop failure'.
READ MORE: New record high temperature recorded for Scotland as firefighters battle major blaze in Borders
'Human-made climate change' cause of extreme heat
The demonstrative action follows a week of the highest ever recorded temperatures in the UK, with Scotland also recording its hottest day on record at 35.1 degrees celsius.
The UN and climate scientists have stated that the extreme temperatures is due to human-made climate change.
The protest comes just eight months after the COP26 climate summit was held in Glasgow.
'It's happening now'
Extinction Rebellion Scotland member Val King, from Stirling, told Clyde News: “We've had warnings from scientists for decades about the effects of climate change and the fact is that they're actually happening now.
"This is no longer some vague concept in the future - it's really happening now. As a mum, I'm frightened for my children."
The 62-year-old added: "There's a blizzard of data out there, lots of facts and figures, but I think sometimes that goes over people's heads. So what we want to do is get an emotional response from people by taking physical action.
"We alone as individuals can't do a great deal; we can do our bit. But what we can do is to impress on politicians that this does matter to us. They've got the power to do something about it."
READ MORE: Is Floors Castle the hottest place in Scotland EVER?
Wolf Saanen, 39, from Glasgow, said: "We've been sounding the alarm about the global climate emergency for years.
"Now it has arrived on our shores, will those with the power to change things finally listen?"
Some parts of Scotland have also been issued with weather shortage warnings following the heatwave.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said on Friday that "water scarcity is a very real threat as a result of climate change".
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