Environment

Greenpeace’s ‘Rainbow Warrior’ permitted to sail into Cop26 restricted zone

Activists claim authorities understand their presence at climate summit ‘too important to shut out’

The Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior makes its way up the River Clyde, near Greenock, Scotland, carrying climate activists from areas affected by climate change to the Cop26 summit. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Mon Nov 1 2021 - 16:14

Climate activists on board Greenpeace's 'Rainbow Warrior' are to sail into the heart of Glasgow after Scottish officials agreed to allow the ship into the Cop26 restricted zone.

Port authorities had wanted to prevent the famous vessel from entering the area, which bans craft from the stretch of the Clyde next to the SEC conference centre where the UN summit is taking place However, Police Scotland on Monday afternoon confirmed it could continue to its destination.

Activists Jakapita Faith Kandanga (24), Edwin Namakanga (27), Maria Reyes (19) and Farzana Faruk Jhumu (22), who are from communities which would be most affected by a changing climate, are on board the ship.

In a joint statement, they said the “authorities understand that our presence at the climate summit is too important to shut out”.

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“It’s ridiculous to think that climate talks could be held without the most affected people there and it’s positive that the police and port authorities have changed their minds,” they said.

“World leaders attending the talks could learn a lot from this co-operation. We have been ignored long enough, and now, with a safe passage to Glasgow, our voices must be heard at Cop26.”

Warned

Greenpeace said it had been warned by HMS Vigilant, as it approached the Firth of Clyde, that if the Rainbow Warrior continued its voyage it would be in breach of maritime laws and police would “act appropriately”.

But the environmental group said that, following a meeting with Hettie Geenen, the ship’s captain, port authorities told her they would help facilitate the four youth climate activists’ arrival.

The four campaigners, from Namibia, Uganda, Mexico and Bangladesh, are just a handful of the thousands of protesters who are descending on the city as world leaders discuss how to fight a changing climate.

Over the next two weeks of the conference, 120 dignitaries and heads of state are set to attend the UN event which has been billed as vital in stopping climate change and rising global temperatures.

As world leaders made their way to the city on Monday, Oxfam’s “big heads”, featuring Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel, Justin Trudeau, Mario Draghi, Narendra Modi, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, made an appearance along with a traditional Scottish pipe band in Glasgow’s Royal Exchange Square, where they were “blowing hot air”.

Oxfam activists dressed as a Scottish pipe band representing (left to right) Vladimir Putin, Mario Draghi, Emmanuel Macron, Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, Angela Merkel, Justin Trudeau, Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping pose during their ‘Big Heads’ protest stunt at the Royal Exchange Square in Glasgow on Monday. Photograph: Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images

Nafkote Dabi, Oxfam’s climate change policy lead, said rich nations are not cutting emissions fast enough to keep the most vulnerable countries safe.

Must not delay

“We must all halve global emissions in the next nine years but we are heading in the opposite direction. Leaders must not delay a moment longer — every fraction of a degree costs lives,” she said.

“Developed nations must live up to their promise from 12 years ago to deliver $100 billion dollars every year to help vulnerable nations adapt to climate change and reduce emissions.”

Greta Thunberg, who inspired the climate strike movement across the globe, was surrounded by police officers and activists as she arrived at Glasgow Central railway station on Sunday night.

The 18-year-old is expected to take part in demonstrations during the summit, including a march through the city on Friday, organised by campaigning organisation Fridays for Future Scotland. She is also expected to speak at a rally taking place on Saturday, hosted by the Cop26 Coalition. – PA

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