New York City -

Yelling that the future and their lives depend on ending fossil fuels, tens of thousands of protesters on Sunday kicked off a week where leaders will try once again to curb climate change primarily caused by coal, oil and natural gas.

But protesters say it's not going to be enough. And they aimed their wrath directly at U.S. President Joe Biden, urging him to stop approving new oil and gas projects, phase out current ones and declare a climate emergency with larger executive powers.

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The March to End Fossil Fuels featured such politicians as Rep. ..... But the real action on Broadway was where protesters crowded the street, pleading for a better but not-so-hot future. It was the opening salvo to New York's Climate Week, where world leaders in business, politics and the arts gather to try to save the planet, highlighted by a new special United Nations summit Wednesday.

Many of the leaders of countries that cause the most heat-trapping carbon pollution will not be in attendance. And they won't speak at the summit organized by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a way that only countries that promise new concrete action are invited to speak.

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This protest was far more focused on fossil fuels and the industry than previous marches. Sunday's rally attracted a large chunk, 15%, of first-time protesters and was overwhelmingly female, said American University sociologist Dana Fisher, who studies environmental movements and was surveying march participants.

Of the people Fisher talked to, 86% had experienced extreme heat recently, 21% floods and 18% severe drought, she said. They mostly reported feeling sad and angry. Earth has just gone through the hottest summer on record.

Among the marchers was 8-year-old Athena Wilson from Boca Raton, Florida. She and her mother, Maleah, flew from Florida for Sunday's protest.

"Because we care about our planet," Athena said. "I really want the Earth to feel better."

People in the South, especially where the oil industry is, and the global south, "have not felt heard," said 23-year-old Alexandria Gordon, originally from Houston. "It is frustrating."

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Marchers and speakers spoke of increasing urgency and fear of the future. The actress known as V, formerly Eve Ensler, premiered the anthem “Panic” from her new climate change oriented musical scheduled for next year. The chorus goes: "We want you to panic. We want you to act. You stole our future and we want it back."

Signs included "Even Santa Knows Coal is Bad" and "Fossil fuels are killing us" and "I want a fossil free future" and "keep it in the ground."

That's because leaders don't want to acknowledge "the elephant in the room," said Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate. "The elephant is that fossil fuels are responsible for the crisis. We can't eat coal. We can't drink oil, and we can't have any new fossil fuel investments."

But oil and gas industry officials said their products are vital to the economy.

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Activists weren't having any of that.

"The fossil fuel industry is choosing to rule and conquer and take and take and take without limit," Rabbi Stephanie Kolin of Congregation Beth Elohim of Brooklyn said. "And so waters are rising and the skies are turning orange (from wildfire smoke) and the heat is taking lives. But you Mr. President can choose the other path, to be a protector of this Earth."

 ..... The March to End Fossil Fuels, which included calls for President Biden to take action, attracted an estimated 75,000 people and featured notable figures such as Rep. ..... 

Protesters passionately voiced their concerns about the future and the impact of fossil fuels on their lives. ..... The rally specifically targeted President Biden, as many of the protesters had supported him in the 2020 election but felt let down by his increased drilling for oil and fossil fuels.

Many signs displayed during the march emphasized the urgent need to address climate change and end fossil fuel use. ..... The protesters called on Biden to prioritize climate change and ending fossil fuels in his re-election strategy, reminding him that their votes hold the power to determine the outcome of the 2024 election.

 ..... S. interests. ..... However, China is currently the largest emitter of carbon pollution on an annual basis.

This demonstration stood out from previous climate marches as it placed a stronger emphasis on the fossil fuel industry. According to American University sociologist Dana Fisher, 15% of Sunday's demonstrators were first-time protesters, reflecting a growing concern among the general public. The march was also predominantly attended by women.

While the protesters were united in their call for an end to fossil fuel use, the oil and gas industry defended its role in the country's infrastructure. American Petroleum Institute Senior Vice President Megan Bloomgren expressed the industry's view that eliminating fossil fuels would leave American families and businesses reliant on unstable foreign regions for more costly and unreliable energy.

In addition to the march, New York's Climate Week typically brings together leaders from different sectors to support environmental causes. ..... N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will be a highlight of the week's events. However, many leaders of countries responsible for significant carbon pollution will not be in attendance, as the summit is exclusively focused on countries committed to taking concrete action against climate change.

The urgency and fear surrounding climate change were palpable among the marchers and speakers. Actress Eve Ensler, known as V, premiered a climate change anthem titled "Panic," which will be featured in her upcoming climate-oriented musical. ..... You stole our future, and we want it back," encapsulated the sense of desperation felt by many. Demonstrators held signs like "Even Santa Knows Coal is Bad" and "I want a fossil-free future," highlighting the need for immediate action.

The protest served as a reminder that the world is at a critical juncture in the fight against climate change. It called for an end to fossil fuels and urged leaders to take bold steps towards building a sustainable future. The activists' message was clear: the time for action is now, and the consequences of inaction are too great to ignore.

Tens of thousands of people have rallied in the US city of New York, calling for urgent action against climate change ahead of the opening of the United Nations General Assembly.

Protesters from some 700 organisations and activist groups took part in Sunday's rally, shouting that humanity's future depended on ending fossil fuels and carrying signs reading, "Fossil fuels are killing us" and "I didn't vote for fires and floods".

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Organisers estimated that some 75,000 people joined Sunday's event.

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Tens of thousands of passionate protesters gathered in New York on Sunday to kick off a week-long series of events aimed at curbing climate change. With their future and lives at stake, demonstrators made it clear that they believe simply curbing climate change won't be enough to save the planet. Instead, they directed their anger and frustration towards U.S. President Joe Biden, urging him to take immediate action.

 ..... She warned Biden that if he wants to win in 2024 without the blood of her generation on his hands, he must put an end to fossil fuels.

March to End Fossil Fuels, the highlight of the day, saw the participation of renowned politicians like Rep. ..... However, the true action unfolded on Broadway, where protesters filled the streets, passionately advocating for a better future.

The march was the opening salvo of New York's Climate Week, which brings together world leaders from various sectors to discuss solutions to the climate crisis. This year's Climate Week will culminate with a special United Nations summit on Wednesday. However, several leaders of countries responsible for significant carbon emissions will not be attending the UN gathering and will not hear the impassioned pleas of the protesters. Only countries that have pledged concrete action to combat climate change have been invited to speak at the summit, organized by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Organizers estimated that around 75,000 people participated in the march on Sunday, making it the largest climate march in the United States in the past five years. The rally served as a powerful conclusion to a week filled with over 650 global actions, highlighting the urgency and magnitude of the climate crisis. The upcoming climate protest and rally, headlined by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are expected to draw thousands of activists to the streets of New York.

Under the banner "March to End Fossil Fuels," protesters are calling on the Biden administration to take bold steps in phasing out fossil fuels. The demonstration is strategically timed just days before the United Nations Climate Ambition Summit, described by UN Secretary-General Ant??nio Guterres as a “no-nonsense” conference aimed at showcasing new climate commitments.

The combination of these events underscores the determination and sense of urgency exhibited by the protesters and climate activists in their fight against climate change. Their demands for immediate action are resonating with an increasing number of people worldwide who are gravely concerned about the future of our planet.

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