Environmental (Commonwealth Union)_ In a powerful demonstration of solidarity, thousands gathered in London on Saturday, uniting their voices under the banner: “There is no climate justice without human rights.” Over 60 organizations, including Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace, Amnesty International, and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, joined forces to demand an end to fossil fuel dependency and denounce the UK’s complicity in alleged genocidal actions in Gaza.
The march began outside the British Museum, a site symbolic of its controversial £50 million sponsorship deal with BP. This oil giant has recently secured gas exploration licenses in occupied Palestinian waters. Protesters continued their route to the offices of Socar, Azerbaijan’s state oil company and co-host of COP29. Socar, alongside BP, co-owns the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which supplies almost 30% of Israel’s oil. Activists accused these companies of fueling both climate destruction and military aggression in Gaza.
A striking banner unfurled during the march read: “BP Socar stop fuelling genocide.” Tyrone Scott of War on Want highlighted the devastating intersection of fossil fuel exploitation and human suffering: “Millions in the global South face climate breakdown’s harshest effects while these same corporations profit from polluting and fueling violence. We must sever ties with fossil fuels and demand justice for Palestine.”
Joanna Warrington of Fossil Free London echoed the urgency for systemic change: “The UK must reject the grip of polluters and hold them accountable. Another world isn’t just possible—it’s essential.”
The march was part of the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice, which saw 25 events across the UK and Ireland. Youth Demand activists further amplified the message, disrupting traffic in cities like London, Manchester, and Leeds to call for an arms embargo on Israel and an immediate halt to new fossil fuel licenses.
In Leeds, three activists received police orders barring them from the city, sparking concerns about the suppression of peaceful protest.
As chants echoed through London’s streets, the message was clear: addressing the climate crisis must go hand in hand with upholding human rights. The fight for justice, activists argued, transcends borders and industries, uniting causes for a more equitable future.
