Amsterdam hosts major climate protest ahead of election

Tens of thousands of people marched through Amsterdam on Sunday demanding immediate action on climate change, just 10 days before a general election in the Netherlands. Police said about 70,000 people took part in the protest. They included climate activist Greta Thunberg and former EU climate chief Frans Timmermans, who will lead a coalition of Labour and the Greens in the upcoming election. The mostly young participants carried banners such as “Our house is burning” and “Stop this crap, turn back the emissions!” Some wore scuba gear in a reference to rising sea levels.

Who organized the march?

The march was organized by environmental groups such as Extinction Rebellion, Fridays for Future, Oxfam and Greenpeace, and organizers said it was the largest-ever turnout for a climate change protest in the Netherlands. In a joint statement, they pointed out the importance of the parliamentary elections, which will be held on November 22. According to them, they are "the most important ever" for climate protection. Dutch voters go to the polls November 22, but recent polls show that climate change is not high on their list of priorities. Timmermans' coalition, for which the fight against climate change is a key issue, is currently in third place behind two conservative parties that emphasize the need to limit migration.

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