Greenpeace activists on Thursday hung a banner reading “Climate: Time to Act!” from a crane towering over the fire-damaged Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, slamming France and President Emmanuel Macron of not doing enough to fight climate change.
“France isn’t doing enough to control climate change,” said Jean-Francois Juilliard, head of Greenpeace France. “It’s time for action now, we’ve had enough of promises and speeches.”
The group said in a statement that four climbers mounted the huge crane, about 80 meters (260 feet) high, soon after dawn and unfurled banners with such phrases as "Climate: Time to Act."
The activists took the banners down after a couple of hours and descended from the crane. No one was detained, according to Greenpeace France.
Local elections last month saw a surge in support for the Green party in major French cities. Macron appointed an ecologist as environment minister this week, but Greenpeace has questioned how much influence she will have over policy.
The group wants tougher laws on emissions, and accuses Macron of making empty announcements about climate change, such as when he launched a global campaign to "Make our Planet Great Again" after US President Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 UN climate accord.
Macron last week announced 15 billion euros in new climate measures after Green Party candidates did well in municipal elections across France. But Greenpeace said that money is overshadowed by billions more given to the high-emitting car and aviation industries to help weather the virus-related recession.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in a report earlier on Thursday that Earth would continue to warm over the next five years, and global temperatures may temporarily rise to more than 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels.
Notre-Dame has been undergoing a major renovation. Fire engulfed it in April 2019, destroying its spire and roof.
