More than 70,000 people marched in Brussels to demand action against climate change

The first figures reported reveal that 70,000 people walked the streets of Brussels to denounce the lack of political will to address climate issues.

An hour before the planned departure of the event, 10,000 people had already gathered at the North Train Station. The march started at 1:30 pm. In the ranks of the procession, many young people and families came together to demonstrate, sign boards in hand.

At the Arts-Loi crossroads, people demonstrated in the early afternoon. The action had been organized by the collective Act for Climate Justice, against the lack of action by the authorities in the face of global warming. They were in a so-called neutral area prohibited from any event and tried to deploy banners. Sixteen protesters – including activists and climbers – were arrested for refusing to leave the so-called neutral zone, according to Ilse Van de Keere, spokesperson for the Brussels police.

At around 15:00, the demonstrators joined the Esplanade Solidarnosc, facing the European Parliament. The organizing group, Rise for Climate Belgium demanded “strong and ambitious actions against global warming”.