Brussels climate march draws tens of thousands ahead of COP31

Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through Brussels on Sunday to demand urgent climate action ahead of the COP31 summit scheduled for next month in Antalya, Türkiye. While police estimated the crowd at approximately 45,000, organizers reported a higher turnout of roughly 60,000 people.

The protest, led by the Climate Coalition and supported by various civil organizations and unions, targeted the European Union institutions. Demonstrators called for an immediate end to fossil fuel subsidies, increased taxation on the fossil fuel sector, and a socially just transition to renewable energy. They also advocated for more urban green spaces and greater international cooperation.

The mobilization follows a summer of extreme weather across Europe, including heatwaves and wildfires that caused significant loss of life and environmental damage. Campaigners expressed concern that political momentum is waning, noting that the United States has withdrawn from international climate efforts and that the European Commission has proposed delays in certain methane reporting obligations.