Greta Thunberg.Photo: 24.sapo.
According to VRT, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was arrested in Brussels during a large-scale protest.
Today, around 300 activists from across Europe, including Greta Thunberg, gathered in Brussels to protest against fossil fuel subsidies. The action was organised by the European climate umbrella organisation United For Climate Justice (UCJ), of which Extinction Rebellion is a member. Activists occupied the Rogier-Nieuwstraat intersection, where police eventually detained 90 protesters, including Thunberg.
The climate crisis as a global challenge
Speaking to VRT journalists, Thunberg said: “We have been trying for decades to get those in power to listen to our desperate calls for change. This is a global, planetary crisis.” The activist stressed the importance of decisive action: “These are crucial years. The science is crystal clear: we can now do something to prevent the worst consequences. Therefore, we have a moral obligation to do something.”
However, despite numerous protests, the energy and support for climate initiatives among the public has declined. The new European Commission does not intend to tighten climate targets, and the Flemish government prefers realism and accessibility in its policies.
Why activism does not stop
Thunberg explained why she continues to take to the streets: “We know what is at stake. Stopping is not an option.” At the same time, another 200 activists marched from the European Parliament to the Merode metro station in Etterbeek to hold a public meeting on climate justice.
Why are fossil fuel subsidies important?
Activists, including Thunberg, have written to the heads of European institutions in an open letter calling for a clear plan to phase out fossil fuel subsidies by 2025. According to the plans, by 2030, the European Union should reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% compared to 1990. In 2023, EU countries allocated 171 billion euros to support fossil fuels, which is a serious challenge to achieving climate goals.
In Ukraine, and in Belgium in particular, the situation is no better. In 2021, the federal government spent €15.5 billion on fossil fuel support, including subsidies and tax breaks. This funding not only reduces the price of natural gas, but also makes it much more difficult to achieve climate goals.
Against the backdrop of a rapidly changing climate and a lack of decisive action from the authorities, activists like Greta Thunberg continue to raise their voices for fair and effective climate policy. The protest in Brussels is just one of many examples of young people seeking to draw attention to the global crisis, believing that stopping is not an option.
