Join a global day of action against climate change on the steps of Luton Town Hall

Luton people are being called to take part in a global day of action on Saturday (November 6) to send a clear message to governments about the need to tackle climate change.

The Global Day of Action for Climate Justice comes halfway through COP26, the huge UN meeting of world leaders in Glasgow, whose mission is to tackle the climate catastrophe that threatens the whole world.

“Let’s all come together at 1pm outside Luton Town Hall on Saturday,” say the organisers - COP26 Coalition Luton. “We will be standing united with others, all over the world, young and old alike."

The aim of the public meeting is to send the strongest message to governments at COP26. Act right away to cut carbon emissions.

The spokesman said: "So far, governments are failing badly. We are in a much worse position than we were 5 years ago. They must face the reality of climate crisis and its main cause - the use of coal, oil and gas - for the sake of our children’s future.]".

There will be several speakers, including Luton North MP Sarah Owen. The MP told Luton Today ahead of the event: "COP really is the last chance world leaders have to take action to halt a climate emergency which risks quickly becoming irreversible. This isn’t just a photo-op in Glasgow for world leaders, it’s a chance for countries to set out the big, transformative change that’s needed.”

“Climate action must start at home and our country should proudly lead by example. Labour would invest £28bn every year until 2030 to tackle the climate crisis. We would support the most vulnerable by reversing the overseas aid cut, delivering and surpassing the $100 billion pledge to help developing countries cut emissions and adapt to climate change, and vaccinating the world's poorest.

"We would take on the big polluters by calling for 1.5C-aligned targets from the big emitting countries, phasing out fossil fuels, while also ensuring a just transition for workers. Protecting nature by ending deforestation and ensuring all emissions reduction protects and promotes nature. We also need a robust Net-Zero and Nature Test for all government spending. We would also pressure financial institutions and FTSE 100 companies to publish their carbon footprint and adopt credible 1.5C-aligned transition plans.

“Compare this to Boris Johnson who’s falling asleep at the wheel (or in the conference hall, should that be?) as we’ve seen this week. COP is a negotiation, not an excuse for him to roll out the same-old ‘Boris Johnson Show’. It’s time he realised that lecturing others is all very well, but when he flirts with a new coal mine, strips out temperature commitments from trade deals, opens up massive new oil exploration and cuts overseas aid, he massively undercuts his own standing.

“We all need COP to succeed. I need it to succeed so that I can look my daughter in the eye when she’s my age and tell her the generation before her did everything we could. We need real leadership to fix the climate crisis.”

Many thousands of worried people have already gathered in Glasgow. The meeting in Luton is expected to bring together climate activists, families, trade unions, community and political groups, young people and concerned citizens from all communities and religions as part of a mass movement. Similar meetings across Britain and the world will be calling for urgent, meaningful action.

Brenda Slessor from Stopsley says: “I’ll be there on the steps of the Town Hall on Saturday. Unless politicians can agree on what needs doing, and really do it, the future is terrifying for me and my children. Please, please come to the meeting yourself and make them listen.”