Activists say ‘No planet B’ in case of climate change ahead of Paris talks

Hundreds of thousands of people from Sydney to London joined one of the biggest days of climate change activism yesterday, telling world leaders gathering for a summit in Paris there is “No Planet B” in the fight against climate change.

In the French capital, where demonstrations were banned by the authorities after attacks by Islamic State militants killed 130 people on November 13, activists laid thousands of pairs of shoes in the Place de la Republique to symbolise absent marchers.

Among the high heels and sandals were a pair of plain black shoes sent by Pope Francis, who has been a vocal advocate for action to prevent dangerous climate change, and jogging shoes from UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon.