Climate protests planned in around 400 towns and cities in France this month

Residents in around 400 French towns and cities are planning to take to the streets for a national day of demonstrations calling for action on climate change.

The mobilisation, set to take place on September 26, is organised by the Mouvement du 26 septembre and comes after a summer marked by extreme weather, including heatwaves, wildfires and drought.

The aim of the marches is to call on the government to introduce emergency measures and long-term plans to adapt to and reduce the effects of climate change, which most experts agree is behind the extreme heat this summer.

Additionally, the organisers said extreme weather is not affecting everyone equally, with a greater impact on people in poorer neighbourhoods, low-income households, older and disabled people, outdoor workers and homeless people.

The call to demonstrate is accompanied by an open letter to French president Emmanuel Macron already signed by more than 31,000 people. 

At the time of writing nearly 170 towns and cities had confirmed the times and locations of their demonstrations, with activity planned in nearly 400 towns and cities across France. 

However, these numbers will doubtless change in the coming days as more towns and cities confirm when and where demonstrations will be held and other locations join the national day of protest.   

“We do not come to ask you to feel sorry for us. We come to demand accountability,” the letter says.

It calls for an emergency plan including cool spaces in public, better protection for people working in high temperatures, properly equipped emergency services and measures to ensure schools, hospitals, care homes and other public buildings can cope with extreme heat.

A second adaptation plan would include restoring funding for local authorities, renovating poorly insulated homes, protecting forests and restoring soils, hedgerows, rivers and groundwater.

The campaign is also demanding an emissions reduction plan, including an end to subsidies for fossil fuels, a ban on new fossil fuel projects and greater access to public transport.

The movement is supported by environmental organisations including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Alternatiba and the Climate Action Network. However, the marches are being organised locally by citizens.

For anyone that would like to attend, an online map lists the demonstrations taking place across France, including the location and meeting details where these have been confirmed.