Climate activists scale EU building as leaders meet

Brussels, December 12

Greenpeace activists on Thursday scaled the European Union’s new headquarters, unfurling a huge banner warning of a “climate emergency” hours before the bloc’s leaders gather for a summit focused on plans to combat global warming.

Around 30 environmental activists clad in red and wearing climbing gear stood on ledges of the Europa building in Brussels as police gathered below and a helicopter circled overhead.

A reporter said around 20 activists on the ground were detained. The group managed to climb the building by using the ladder of an old fire truck and has enough food to last for two days, according to Greenpeace spokesman Mark Breddy.

The EU leaders are set to debate ways for the 28-nation bloc to become carbon neutral by 2050. But poorer coal-dependent nations fear they could be hardest hit by the effort to transform their energy sources. The EU leaders will also discuss their long-term budget plans, the euro single currency and Brexit in the light of British election results. — AP

Greenpeace chief locked out of meet

Madrid: The head of Greenpeace International found herself locked out of the UN building Wednesday along with hundreds of other observers ejected from the talks. Jennifer Morgan, who has been attending the troubled UN negotiations for 25 years, said, “This afternoon there was a peaceful protest outside of the plenary. The protesters were roughly moved out of the building. When I tried to get back in, I found that the security had closed access to all observers.” AFP