Extinction Rebellion holding “sit for climate” protests at Newark Northgate Station during United Nation Climate Conference COP28

Environmental activists are staging a ‘sit for climate’ protest at a station every day for the next few weeks.

Over the next fortnight, world leaders will gather for the United Nations Climate Conference — known as COP28 — with aim of reducing global CO2 pollution and avoiding the worst consequences of climate change.

For the duration of COP28, the Newark and Sherwood Extinction Rebellion group will be staging sitting protests at Newark Northgate Station, until December 12.

The protests will take place at the station every weekday from 7.30am to 8am, and in the grounds of Newark Castle Castle from 9.30am until 10am on weekends.

The group hopes to highlight people’s concerns about the climate and encourages anyone to come and sit with a simple written message for our elected representatives on themes of climate, biodiversity and related justice issues.

Similar events are also taking place in Lincoln and will be non-disruptive.

Group member, Ali Carter, said “Conferences like COP take place far away from ordinary people and yet are vital for everyone.

“As a group we wanted to provide an outlet for local people’s worries and concerns about the future, to get people talking about the climate emergency.

“To show our leaders that people from all walks of life understand what is happening to our climate and are deeply concerned about what it means for us all.

“People I talk to are horrified at recent decisions by the UK government to license new oil and gas in the North Sea on a massive scale.

“I have become involved as a way of saying “not in my name”, for my children and future generations and want our leaders to step up at COP and make decisions for all of us not just those who lobby for fossil fuel companies”.

Dave Atkinson, surveyor for the Woodland Trust, said “I am supporting this series of actions because of the devastating impacts we are having on the natural world and the changes I’ve seen in my own lifetime, whether it’s the loss of insects and birds in the UK or the disappearance of the rainforests.

“We are in an emergency and need an urgent plan for climate and nature.

“I would love this to build. For change to happen we need people who understand what is happening and feel the same to come together to really make an impact.”