Portugal: Hundreds of climate protesters in Lisbon – See photos

Hundreds of protesters angry about the climate crisis took to the streets of Lisbon today, with dozens storming a building where Portugal’s Finance Minister Antonio Costa e Silva was giving a speech, calling for the former oil executive to resign.

Holding banners and chanting slogans, protesters demanded climate action. As some protesters stormed the building, those outside chanted: “Costa e Silva out!”

Police officers dragged the protesters out of the building. Portuguese broadcaster RTP reported that the minister left the building through a back door.

See images

The Finance Ministry declined to comment.

The demonstration in Portugal took place as world leaders, policymakers and representatives from nearly 200 countries gathered at the UN Climate Conference, COP27 in Egypt, in hopes of keeping alive the goal of averting the worst effects of climate change.

However, some activists do not believe that COP27 will solve the problem.

“The COPs are not designed to address climate change because they would need more participation from civil society and less participation from mineral industry lobbyists,” said Pedro Franco, a 27-year-old student.

Joao Duarte, 23, also blamed governments for favoring the “financial interests” of big companies instead of putting climate change at the top of the political agenda.

“There will be no change until governments stop being the best friends and allies of big business,” Joao said.

United Nations experts said in a report on Tuesday that promises by companies, banks and cities to reach zero emissions often amount to little more than greenwashing.

“The situation is serious and urgent,” Marta Leandro, vice president of Portuguese environmental group Quercus, said at the demonstration in Lisbon. “What we do or don’t do this decade will have a big impact on climate security.”