COP24 Presidency promises a conducive conference following climate march arrests

By Sharon Tshipa

Following several arrests of civil society representatives yesterday and today, Micha? Kurtyka, the global climate change conference President today said commitments were made before to allow everybody to participate, hence they will work hard to ensure a conducive atmosphere next week.

When addressing a pool of journalists from across the globe at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) framework in Katowice, Poland, Kurtyka did not directly acknowledge the arrests but said he is working with relevant authorities to resolve the issue.

According to Greenpeace International, the ‘march for climate’ pilgrimage that evoked arrests was from the Vatican. Upon arrival at its final stop in Imielin, 20 km away from Katowice, where the pilgrims met with the local community who are fighting against a coal mine extension by the EU’s largest mining company, part in a Mass and took a photo with a light sign to send the message: ‘Save climate, save people’.

“I joined the march because there is nothing more important than the planet. I am pissed off at politicians, they are liars and are all equally bad. As a scientist I saw the need to join. I googled once and found this movement in the UK called Extinction Rebellion, I joined. I am Polish, the movement is international,” said Wiktor Kotowski, a Scientist and Biology Professor at the University of Warsaw in an interview upon arrival outside the Katowice conference venue where they chanted ‘WAKE UP! IT’S TIME TO SAVE OUR HOME’. He marched with his 18 year old son called Witek Kotowski, who said his father has since inspired him to fight for the environmental. The march took place amid heavy police presence.

According to Greenpeace International, the participants of the climate pilgrimage come from all over the world – Asia, the Pacific countries, America and Europe. They walked 1500 kilometres from the Vatican to Katowice, where the UN climate summit is taking place, to raise attention to the fact that millions of people across the globe suffer from climate crisis and catastrophes, such as drought, floods and typhoons.