Climate activists around the globe have been using the days leading up to the United Nations General Assembly to bring attention to the issue of climate change.

Tens of thousands of people marched through the city Sunday, calling for an end to the use of fossil fuels.

What You Need To Know

  • Several hundred climate activists held a demonstration in lower Manhattan Monday, in which dozens of activists were willingly arrested for civil disobedience
  • Activists demand that the president stop approving new fossil fuel projects and phase out fossil fuel drilling
  • The demonstration started in Zuccotti Park and was followed by a march to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where protesters blocked the building and traffic
  • Monday’s event was part of a global movement by activists to put pressure on the the fossil fuel industry leading up to the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly

Several hundred climate activists held a smaller demonstration in lower Manhattan Monday, in which dozens of activists were willingly arrested for civil disobedience.

Activists demanded that President Joe Biden, who is in New York for the General Assembly this week, stop approving new fossil fuel projects and phase out fossil fuel drilling.

“We’re imploring President Biden to call an emergency,” said protester Jo Schuman. “This is an emergency. Our planet is on fire. It’s flooding.”

Protesters gathered outside of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. They said they blocked doors and traffic to draw attention to what they call Wall Street’s financing of the fossil fuel industry.

“We have to end the use of fossil fuels and stop pumping oil and gas if we’re ever going to solve this climate crisis and prevent the death of millions of people,” said Jonathan Westin, the director of the Climate Organizing Hub.

According to a report by the National Centers for Environmental Information, the costs of climate-related weather disasters in the U.S. exceeded $57.6 billion this year.

“Fossil fuels are killing our Black and brown communities,” said Jenny Espino of Texas Campaign for the Environment. “Our communities are among the most impacted, and are suffering the most.”

Organizers said they will obtain legal representation for the protesters who were arrested to help them get released from jail and have any charges stemming from the demonstration dropped.

“We have the opportunity to turn it around for our grandchildren,” Schuman said. “I’m here to do that for them because they can’t do that for themselves. And they deserve the best from all of us.”