Across the world rallies were held to draw attention to climate change ahead of a United Nations summit in New York.
High profile supporters including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and former US Vice-President Al Gore joined a march along Central Park in the city on Sunday.
The march was one of a series of events large and small held around the world — organisers said 40,000 marchers took part in an event in London, while a small gathering in Cairo featured 50-foot art piece representing wind and solar energy — two days before the United Nations Climate Summit. More than 120 world leaders will convene on Tuesday for the meeting aimed at galvanising political will for a new global climate treaty by the end of 2015.
At the rally in Manhatta, Moon said, “There is no Plan B because we do not have planet B. We have to work and galvanize our action. Thank you for your action and your power to change.”
A protester with ‘One Planet’ drawn on her face takes part in the climate march down 6th Avenue in the Manhattan borough of New York. Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio takes part in a march against climate change in New York September. An international day of action on climate change brought tens of thousands onto the streets of New York on Sunday, with organizers predicting the biggest protest on the issue for five years. Photograph: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
Actress Emma Thompson and her daughter Gaia take part in the ‘People's Climate March’ in central London. The London march was one many held worldwide, ahead of the forthcoming UN Emergency summit on climate change. Photograph: Luke MacGregor/Reuters
A protester carries a banner referring to Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott as he participates in a rally called the Climate Change Action March in Sydney. Local media reported more than 5,000 people attended similar rallies in other Australian state capital cities. Photograph: David Gray/Reuters
Approximately 15,000 people turned out in Berlin, where protesters urged their government to recognise global warming as an immediate problem. Photograph: Thomas Peter/Reuters
Protesters walk in the ‘People's Climate March’ in central London. Photograph: Luke MacGregor/Reuters
Demonstrators in animal costumes walk in the ‘People’s Climate March’ in central London. Photograph: Luke MacGregor/Reuters
Protesters hold inflatable planes with labels reading ‘climate killer’ and ‘tax break model’ during a Climate Change March demanding politicians take tougher action to protect the climate in Berlin. Photograph: Thomas Peter/Reuters
People take part in a march against climate change in New York. Photograph: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
Activists hold signs as they march down 6th Avenue while taking part in the People's Climate March through Midtown. World leaders including U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon joined farmers, fishermen, children and others in a massive demonstration on Sunday to demand action on climate change. Photograph: Adrees Latif/Reuters
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, former United States Vice President Al Gore, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and French Environment Minister Segolene Royal take part in the People's Climate March down 6th Ave in the Manhattan borough of New York. Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters
People hold posters during a Climate Change march to demand politicians take tougher action to protect the climate at Angel de la Independencia monument in Mexico City, September 21, 2014. Photograph: Edgard Garrido/Reuters
A woman holds up a sign during a demonstration outside the Galileo Galilei planetarium in Buenos Aires. The demonstration was part of the People’s Climate March, held in cities around the world such as Rio de Janeiro and New York ahead of Tuesday’s United Nations-hosted summit in New York to discuss reducing carbon emissions that threaten the environment. Photograph: Marcos Brindicci/Reuters
A woman carries a decorated sign of Mother Earth along West 72nd Street during the People’s Climate March in New York. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters
Activists lead with a float while taking part in the Peopl’s Climate March through Midtown, New York. Photograph: AdreesLatif/Reuters