Paris, December 12 – On Friday, activists from Greenpeace and other environmental organizations used red paint to spray the cobblestones of Place de l’Étoile in Paris. The action was a protest against what they consider to be insufficient progress and modest commitments made since the adoption of the Paris Agreement on climate, which marks its tenth anniversary today.
Climate Activists Target Iconic Parisian Landmark
Around 11:15 AM, an AFP journalist observed activists, accompanied by members of other environmental organizations, spraying red paint on the ground of the Place de l’Étoile, where the Arc de Triomphe is located, on the roundabout at the top of the famous Champs-Élysées avenue. According to the activists, the paint used was made with “natural pigments.” They utilized vehicles to distribute the paint across the area.
Climate activists displayed several banners near the roundabout, one of which read: “10 years of climate sabotage.” The demonstrators dispersed upon the arrival of the police, while traffic continued to flow on the roundabout.
A Decade Since the Paris Agreement: “Modest Commitments”
The Paris Agreement, adopted by nearly all countries worldwide at COP21 on December 12, 2015, aims to keep the global average temperature increase “well below 2°C” above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C.
However, many voices, including that of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, have recently acknowledged that the 1.5°C target will not be met in the short term. The latest COP, held in Brazil in November, concluded with what many describe as modest commitments, notably failing to mention fossil fuels in its final conclusions.
Jason Temaui Man, a Polynesian pro-climate activist who participated in the Greenpeace action, explained the rationale behind such dramatic demonstrations. “We need to do spectacular things that will attract the attention of journalists, people, and the state to talk about this. It’s a bit disheartening, but that’s citizen resistance today; it’s about finding innovative ways to draw attention to these issues,” he told AFP.
The Urgency of Climate Action
The activists’ protest underscores a growing frustration among environmental groups regarding the pace and effectiveness of global climate action. Despite the landmark Paris Agreement, the world continues to grapple with rising temperatures and extreme weather events, leading to calls for more decisive and immediate measures from governments and international bodies.
The use of red paint on a prominent public space like Place de l’Étoile is a symbolic act designed to highlight the perceived urgency of the climate crisis and the “red line” that humanity is approaching. Greenpeace and its allies aim to shock the public and policymakers into recognizing the severity of the situation and the need for stronger commitments beyond the current trajectory.
Public Reaction and Future of Climate Protests
The protest in Paris is part of a broader trend of direct action by climate activists globally, who are increasingly employing disruptive tactics to draw attention to their cause. While such actions sometimes draw criticism, proponents argue they are necessary to break through media saturation and political inertia.
The incident at Place de l’Étoile serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing debate surrounding climate policy and the pressure on world leaders to deliver on their environmental promises. As the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement passes, the call for more ambitious and concrete actions to combat climate change remains louder than ever.
