Protest Erupts at Climate Summit in Baku: Activists Demand Billions in Support for Vulnerable Nations

Protests at Climate Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan

Hundreds of climate activists gathered today at the climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. They chanted “Billions, not millions,” demanding billions in climate aid for developing countries.

Protests are a staple of the annual climate summit. According to Maarten de Zeeuw from Greenpeace’s Climate and Energy Team, activists aim to put pressure on negotiators. “We want them to know the world is watching,” he said.

The gathering included an international group of activists brandishing professional banners against fossil fuels, as well as makeshift signs with hastily written messages. They engaged in singing, chanting slogans, and delivering passionate speeches to boost morale.

Limited Demonstrations

The summit featured speeches addressing climate change and its connections to women’s rights and international solidarity. Some activists wore keffiyehs and raised slogans to highlight the situation of Palestinians.

After previous summits in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, this year’s meeting takes place in a country where protest rights are limited, as noted by Freedom House, an organization monitoring political freedom.

Consequently, large climate marches similar to previous events in Glasgow and Paris did not occur. However, UN rules allowed for some protests in designated areas. Nevertheless, human rights groups claim that these freedoms have been restricted in recent years.

Portuguese activist Bianca Castro expressed frustrations, stating, “It is really difficult to make our demands known,” noting that protests within the stadium would have been nearly invisible due to restrictions.

The summit organizers countered that they consulted broadly to allow for protest in parts of the stadium not hosting the summit. They insisted that the rules for demonstrations have not changed.

Today, there was still discontent. Protesters received limited time to express their views in the main hall. After the last speech, attendees were directed outside. Activists distributed handwritten notes reading “silencing imposed,” referencing rules that restricted their ability to make noise.

Human Chain as Protest

Inside the venue, activists did not march. The design of the building, which features windowless halls, made such actions impractical. Instead, they displayed banners and formed a human chain for one hour, capturing photos to share their protest with the outside world.

“It is crucial that this protest happens,” de Zeeuw emphasized. He hoped for a different scenario. “This is where decisions about our future are being made.”

He reflected on the past years and recognized that free demonstration is not guaranteed. “We must appreciate living in a free country like the Netherlands.”