York students lead climate change protests in city centre

A campaign group led by York students held a protest in York on Friday over government policy on climate change.

Extinction Rebellion York, as a branch of the wider Extinction Rebellion movement, took part in a series of non-violent direct actions.

Extinction Rebellion is not allied to any political party or other movement but is a project of a direct action group called Rising Up.

The campaigners temporarily blocked a city centre road and a bridge over the River Ouse.

They apologised for the inconvenience caused though stressed that "this relatively minor inconvenience could help save us all from
catastrophic consequences in years to come."

The York action was taken in support of Extinction Rebellion's three core demands.

They demand that the government "tell the truth about the climate and wider ecological emergency, reverse inconsistent policies and work alongside the media to communicate the situation with citizens," "enact legally binding policy measures to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2025 and to reduce consumption levels", and "convene a national Citizen’s Assembly to oversee necessary changes, as part of creating a democracy fit for purpose."

The protests also recognise that "while the national government continues to fail to act, local government can still take action."

Extinction Rebellion York demand that "York Council recognise that we are in a climate emergency, and brings it policies in line with this, including but not limited to going carbon neutral by 2025."