Extinction Rebellion (XR for short) wants governments to declare a “climate and ecological emergency” and take immediate action to address climate change.

What is it?

Extinction Rebellion is a decentralised, international and politically non-partisan movement using non-violent direct action and civil disobedience to persuade governments to act justly on the Climate and Ecological Emergency. 

• Extinction Rebellion was officially launched in the United Kingdom in May in 2018 and organisers say it now has groups willing to take action in dozens of countries.
• The group uses an hourglass inside a circle as its logo, to represent time running out for many species.

Their demands:

In the UK, Extinction Rebellion has three main demands:

1. The government must declare a climate “emergency”
2. The UK must legally commit to reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2025
3. A citizens’ assembly must be formed to “oversee the changes”

Are its aims realistic? 

Reducing CO2 emissions to almost zero in six years’ time would be extremely ambitious.

Severe restrictions on flying would be needed. 

• Diets would have to change, by drastically cutting back on meat and dairy. 
• And there would have to be a massive increase in renewable energy, along with many other radical changes.

But those involved with Extinction Rebellion say the future of the planet depends on it and We have left it so late that we have to step up in a semi-miraculous way to deal with this situation.

What are its tactics?

In April 2019, Extinction Rebellion held a large demonstration in London. Over the course of 11 days, some of the city’s busiest routes were brought to a standstill.

• The action resulted in more than 1,100 arrests – most on suspicion of not following police instructions to move.
• In June, activists blocked traffic in New York, several German protesters chained themselves outside Angela Merkel’s Chancellery in Berlin, and in Paris the police used pepper spray to clear activists blocking a bridge over the Seine.

Who supports Extinction Rebellion?

• Young people are most likely to agree with its aims, a survey of 3,000 people conducted by YouGov in April suggests.
• Among 18- to 24-year-olds, 47% either “strongly supported” or “somewhat supported” the disruption of traffic and public transport to highlight Extinction Rebellion’s aims.

What have critics said about it?

• Its supporters have been criticised as “environmental fanatics” who plan to ruin thousands of holidays and risk alienating thousands of potential supporters.
• It has also defended causing criminal damage, such as smashing windows. It says such tactics are sometimes necessary and that it is “super careful” not to put anyone at risk.

Source: The BBC