Ugandan environmental activist Vanessa Nakate today accused world leaders of supporting new fossil fuel production projects while other activists held a protest for human and environmental rights and called for aid to countries suffering the devastating effects of climate change.
The goal set by the 2015 Paris climate agreement for countries to limit global warming to 1,5 degrees is looking less and less achievable as the temperature has already increased by about 1,2 degrees.
"Many leaders are focused on making deals for fossil fuel lobbyists, surviving the next election cycle and making as much short-term profit as possible," Nakate said on the sidelines of a UN climate forum in Sharm el-Sheikh.
She warned that representatives of oil and gas are also present at the forum, turning it into a "conference on the sale and marketing of more pollution and more destruction and devastation."
Environmental groups saw more than 600 delegates affiliated with the fossil fuel industry at the two-week meeting.
Nakate cited International Energy Agency research that said there could be no new investment in coal, oil or gas if the world is to stay below 1,5 degrees C.
However, the Russian attack on Ukraine started the fight for energy and the search for new sources of oil and gas.
Many developing countries are disproportionately affected by climate change because they are less able to adapt to the extreme weather events exacerbated by global warming.
Later in the day, a group of environmental activists gathered in front of the conference venue in a symbolic protest to highlight, they said, the way states treat environmental and human rights defenders.
"We are protesting in the name and in solidarity with all those who cannot be heard, we are here demanding the release of those who are silenced," activist Luisa Neubauer said in a speech.
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