Protests outside COP15 in Montreal, demanding climate action

"There’s not enough being done,” said Celeste Trianon, a protester at a march against COP15, the United Nations biodiversity conference in Montreal. Many are demanding governments do more on climate action. Alyssia Rubertucci reports.

By News Staff

Posted December 7, 2022 9:06 am.

Last Updated December 7, 2022 6:48 pm.

Protesters against COP15 came out early in Montreal on a rainy Wednesday, as the UN’s conference on biodiversity officially got underway at Palais des congrès.

Led by la Coalition écologiste et anticapitaliste contre la COP15, about 100 or so demonstrators – mainly masked, with their faces hidden – started at Place d’Armes around 7 a.m. and made their way to the conference area in Old Montreal.

Protesters held a banner that read: “Bloquons la COP15,” or “Block COP15.”

Students on strike, anti-capitalist groups and environmental activists were hoping to disrupt the downtown core, demanding government action on the environment.

“I think we can all acknowledge that there’s not enough being done,” said protester Celeste Trianon. “And we’re protesting in part to demand radical action immediately.

Protesters out against COP15 in Montreal, Dec. 7, 2022. (CREDIT: Alyssia Rubertucci/CityNews)

“I think people do realize that that environmental crisis is reaching a breaking point. Come on, we’re Dec. 7 and it’s like 10 degrees above zero.

“We’re hearing contradictory messages from leaders and we are not getting enough action.”

Members of the Coalition did not want to speak to the media when asked. But in a press release they said conventions like COP15 are so-called green and hypocritical.

#WATCH: Protesters against COP15 line the perimeter of the conference venue of the Palais des congrès Wednesday morning. They’re demanding more action from governments on the environment.

READ: https://t.co/kmZjwsCsa2 pic.twitter.com/TG6xuuK3rL

— Alyssia (@rubertuccinews) December 7, 2022

In a speech, an organizer called COP15 a smoke screen and a way to protect the rich. Saying that protesters don’t want to know anything about conferences like COP15, that this won’t change anything, but major changes need to happen quickly.

“Governments meet and every time it is for nothing, especially that they’re meeting here, in Montreal, on a land which was an unceded territory, better known under the name of Tiohtià:ke,” said one protester.

“I hope they completely change their way of thinking and take action as quickly as possible. the actions, that will stop all the projects which go against the climate,” added another.

Police from all levels were out early, many in full riot gear as well. A heavy security presence was felt.

The protest did not turn violent, though at one point a protester launched an orange cone at a police officer behind the barricade of the convention center

The demonstrators then made their way to Montreal police headquarters and to Cégep du Vieux Montréal, where they took a break, then headed to UQAM around 9:30 a.m. They’ve said they plan to block the downtown core for the day.

More protests are planned for Friday.