With a protest timed to respond to the release of a shocking United Nations report on climate change that had dire warnings for humanity, a coalition of climate activists called Scientist Rebellion engaged in acts of non-violent civil disobedience around the world on Wednesday. Over 1000 scientists in 25 countries assembled in cities around the world. Donning white lab coats emblazoned with the hourglass logo of Extinction Rebellion — a decentralized international movement that calls for non-violent direct action to push world governments to act on climate change — their message was clear: time is running out.
"We have not made the changes necessary to limit warming to 1.5°C, rendering this goal effectively impossible," Dr. Rose Abramoff said via a press release. "We need to both understand the consequences of our inaction as well as limit fossil fuel emissions as much and as quickly as possible. As scientists, we tend to be risk-averse. We don't want to risk our jobs, our reputations, and our time. But it is no longer sufficient to do our research and expect others to read our publications and understand the severity and urgency of the climate crisis."
