COPENHAGEN — Tens of thousands of marchers and demonstrators descended on Copenhagen on Saturday afternoon, calling for a fair, ambitious and legally binding climate deal.
Police said early Saturday that between 40,000 and 60,000 people were expected to march from downtown Copenhagen to the conference center on the outskirts of town where the COP15 climate change conference is taking place.
Despite five days of negotiations, there has been little progress on securing an agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide or provide large amounts of funding to countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
The Copenhagen demonstration is the culmination of 2,600 candlelight vigils, marches and other events scheduled in nearly 140 countries, including a march that took place in Kyoto. Nongovernmental organizations participating in the Copenhagen march said it was an expression of their frustration toward the U.N. negotiators.
The first draft of a potential agreement emerged from negotiations Friday, but NGOs said that it was insufficient, and that time was running out to reach agreement.
"The proposal does not include long-term climate financing to help developing countries tackle climate change. Large-scale, regular payments to developing countries is the glue that will hold together a successful deal," said Antonio Hill, a representative from Oxfam and one of those who helped organize Saturday's event in the Danish capital.
"With millions of people already suffering from flash floods and withering droughts, we need a new legal deal, not more action and delay," he added.