London: Day of Action for COP28: 'We want Climate Justice Now'

Saturday's Global Day of Action, coinciding with the COP28 climate summit in Dubai - for me - started with meeting up with Christian Climate Action at the café of St James' Church, Piccadilly. Members unfurled their banners alongside Operation Noah and Tearfund representatives, a Laudato Si Animator from Oxford linked to the Oxford Dominicans, and Quakers with their banner, 'Quakers for Climate Justice.'

Among the religious Sisters taking part - there was one Missionary of Our Lady of Africa, (she's seen holding the banner in the photo), two Sisters of St Andrew and one Medical Mission Sister. A Franciscan priest (in his habit) from Stratford, Fr Yusuf, also took part. For a while he helped carry the Westminster banner (although Stratford is actually in Brentwood diocese.)

We walked down to St James Square and prayed standing between the offices of extractive giants Rio Tinto and BP. Others arrived to join the Faith section - including Westminster Justice and Peace, Jesuit Missions, and Green Christian. Secular organisations included The Campaign against Climate Change Trade Union group with a poster, 'The Climate Crisis is always a Trade Union Issue'. Hats off to Chris and Clare Myers from the parish of Our Lady and St Joseph in New Hartley, Hexham and Newcastle Diocese, who were also involved in the lobby at COP26 in Glasgow.

Prayers were led outside BP by CAFOD, Christian Aid and Tearfund which used the 'Prayer for our Earth' from the Laudato Si' encyclical. And behind the Laudato Si' Movement banner were Columban, Jesuit and Salesian priests. Religious sisters represented included the Columban Sisters and Sisters of St Joseph of Peace.

A rally outside BP led by the Climate Justice Coalition, with the banner - 'Climate Justice Not Colonialism' - highlighted that BP has signed new gas exploration licences with Israel off the coast of Gaza, "and makes billions while fuelling climate breakdown." We chanted, 'What do we want? Climate Justice; When do we want it? NOW!' There were shouts of 'SHAME' at the "hypocrisy" of Rishi Sunak flying in to COP28 on a private jet for an 11-hour visit and his rowing back on key net zero targets and giving the go-ahead to new oil and gas exploration licences in the North Sea. Also, at the distress of "sacrifice communities" providing materials for the energy transition without their consent.

Izzy McIntosh of Global Justice Now highlighted that "fossil fuels are on the COP28 agenda because of action from the streets." She stressed the importance of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, which is spearheaded by the Pacific Island States and which Colombia signed up to support this week.

Tweets used the hashtag #Now We Rise. Operation Noah tweeted: 'Fossil fuel companies like BP and Shell are overheating the planet, underinvesting in renewables & continuing to explore for new oil & gas against international warnings. We can't have new fossil fuel developments if we hope to limit global heating to 1.5C.' An array of creative banners included, 'Political leaders listen up! Temperatures are rising. Corporate profits are rising. Now we're rising.'

On we marched to the nearby offices of BAE Systems, led by a lively steel band, for more speeches. Banners prominent here included, 'Welfare not Warfare' and 'Climate Crime Scene'. Campaigners reported blocking BAE Systems sites just a few days ago in Lancashire, Brighton, Bournemouth and Glasgow, in the latest demonstrations against weapons being sent to Israel. Young Green New Deal activists called for politicians to back a Green New Deal in their next manifestos.

Then moving down to Trafalgar Square, we met up with the 6th National March through London for peace in Palestine, calling for a permanent ceasefire. Many of us joined in with that huge protest of more than 100,000 people.

This London COP28 rally and march was one of countless protests taking place around the world on Saturday demanding that leaders commit to action before COP28 ends. There were around 40 around the UK, including Birmingham, Nottingham and Sheffield.

The day of action in Scotland saw campaigners from Justice and Peace Scotland and SCIAF join Oxfam and others outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh to add their voice to support a fast, fair and financed global end to fossil fuels.

At the COP itself in Dubai, hundreds gathered to support the Global Day of Action and to urge world leaders to step up on action to end fossil fuels. It happened as leaked letters revealed that OPEC has railed against fossil fuel phase-out at COP28, after the previous 27 climate COPs have not significantly tackled fossil fuels, which are the primary cause of climate change.

Former Ireland President Mary Robinson said: "They're scared. I think they're worried." Now co-chair of the retired leaders group The Elders, and a prominent climate campaigner, she added that the fact OPEC is afraid "gives me hope".

(Further reports from this day of demonstrations soon.)