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Massive climate change protests in New York aim to turn up heat on Biden [1]

['Timothy Puko', 'Dino Grandoni']

Date: 2023-09-18

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) joined climate protesters in New York on Sept. 17 ahead of the United Nations General Assembly. (Video: Reuters)

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NEW YORK — They arrived by the thousands, wearing gas masks and melting-snowmen costumes and carrying signs calling for an end of burning fossil fuels. Climate Week started out with a bang as protesters inundated the streets of Midtown Manhattan from Sunday into Monday, calling for the United States to do more to combat climate change. The New York Police Department arrested 114 people Monday after protesters blocked the entrance to a Federal Reserve building.

The annual week-long conference arrives with extra urgency this year as the world is probably enduring its warmest year on record.

What to know about Climate Week

With natural disaster upon natural disaster, you’d be forgiven for thinking practically every week this summer has been climate week.

Climate Week NYC is one of the largest annual events focused on the issue of global warming, drawing together leaders from government, business, academia and the nonprofit sector for a bombardment of speeches and panels. It overlaps with the U.N. General Assembly, when thousands of diplomats and heads of state arrive in New York and start talks that set the stage for big climate negotiations scheduled for every fall. It often draws announcements from countries and companies aiming to tout their environmental stewardship.

Now in its 15th year, the event is run by a nonprofit called the Climate Group. This year, it is being held Sept. 17-24.

Who are the key leaders gathering?

Among the big-name U.S. politicians attending are Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), whose state just filed a broad lawsuit against some of the world’s largest oil and gas companies over damage from storms and wildfires.

The White House is sending several top climate deputies, including U.S. special climate envoy John F. Kerry, senior adviser John Podesta and White House national climate adviser Ali Zaidi.

What are protesters demanding?

Ahead of the protests, organizers issued an open letter to President Biden calling for his administration to end approving more fossil fuel extraction and phase out existing production. During the 2020 campaign, Biden promised to stop permitting new drilling on federal lands and waters, but following through has proved difficult legally.

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“Right now, the United States continues to be approving record number of fossil fuel leases, and we must send the message right here, today, right now that that has got to end,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said in a Sunday speech at the protests.

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In an interview, Kerry said he appreciated the climate protesters, even if they were voicing discontent with the Biden administration. He alluded to his own time as a vocal opponent of the Vietnam War.

“I have huge respect for people who take the time and make the effort to go out on the street and march and make their point of view heard,” he said. “And I think their point of view is really important and can hopefully help move the needle.”

He added that Biden has “accomplished more than any president in history” on climate change.

What does the Biden administration plan to do?

Climate Week doesn’t tend to draw the biggest announcements from the United States or other countries. Those will instead be saved for COP28, a major U.N. climate conference scheduled in the United Arab Emirates later this year. But events like Climate Week lay the groundwork for bigger announcements.

Biden himself is planning to deliver remarks to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday before holding meetings with world leaders.

Biden’s deputies in New York are expected to emphasize how the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act puts the country on course for reduction greenhouse gas emissions and meet targets under the Paris climate agreement.

Grandoni reported from Washington.

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[1] Url: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/09/18/climate-week-protests-un-biden/

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