Portuguese Economy Minister António Costa e Silva gave a speech as protesters arrived at the scene.
Hundreds of protesters angry over the climate crisis took to the streets of Lisbon on Saturday and dozens stormed a building where Portuguese Economy Minister António Costa e Silva does not speak easily of the former oil executive’s resignation.
Holding banners and chanting slogans, protesters demanded climate action. When protesters stormed the building, those outside shouted: “Costa e Silva out!
Police dragged protesters out of the building. Portuguese broadcaster RTP reported that the minister left the construction through a back door.
The Economy Ministry declined to comment.
The protest in Portugal positioned itself as world leaders, legislators and delegates from almost two hundred countries accumulated at the UN climate summit Cop27 in Egypt, where they hope to keep alive the purpose of avoiding the worst effects of climate change.
But some activists are not going to solve the problem.
“The police are not designed to deal with climate change because there is more civil society participation, less participation of fossil fuel industry lobbyists,” said Pedro Franco, a 27-year-old student.
Joao Duarte, 23, also pointed the finger at governments for favoring the “monetary interests” of big business to put climate replacement at the top of the political agenda.
“There will be no replacement until governments stop being friends and allies of big business,” he said.
UN experts said in a report on Tuesday that it is committing through companies, banks and cities to achieve net-zero emissions to little more than greenwashing.
“The scenario is serious and urgent,” Marta Leandro, vice president of the Portuguese environmental organization Quercus, said at the protest in Lisbon. “What we do or don’t do in this decade will have a huge impact on climate security. “. “