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This afternoon (1:30pm–4pm, Saturday 10 May) Extinction Rebellion Cambridge and other activist groups – including Extinction Rebellion UK, Cambridge Greenpeace, Cambridge Stop the War and ORCA (Organisation of Radical Cambridge Activists) – are holding a mock funeral for the 1.5°C target international policymakers signed up to in the Paris Agreement of 2015. 

A solemn procession around Cambridge city centre is being led by 50 ‘Red Rebels’ – silent performers dressed strikingly in red with their faces painted stark white. On its journey, the procession – complete with a black funeral casket representing the death of the 1.5°C  target – will pass through the Lion Yard, where a banner reading “’No future on a dead planet” will be lowered from the first floor as the march passed underneath. The procession will end on Christ’s Pieces where participants will gather to hear speeches, poetry, readings and songs.

In 2015, politicians from around the world agreed to limit global average temperature rises to “well below” 2°C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century, aiming for 1.5°C if possible. In 2015, temperatures had already risen by 1°C above pre-industrial levels, due to the burning of fossil fuels and the release of greenhouse gases. Policymakers agreed to these limits in the Paris Treaty, in order to prevent us from hitting Earth-system tipping points that would unleash climate chaos. 

Despite these promises, global average temperatures smashed through the 1.5°C target in 2024 – just a quarter of a way through the century. The breach needs to be sustained for a decade or more for politicians to agree that 1.5°C has been exceeded – but many scientists say that the target has now been missed, with one describing it as ‘deader than a doornail’.

Alex Martin of Extinction Rebellion Cambridge said: “The mock funeral idea grew out of the need to process the enormity and sadness of this moment. While many people are distracted by 1001 things on their phones, we felt we needed a physical space where we could grieve together for what we are losing, and reflect on how to respond to the challenge now in front of us.”

The devastating impacts of global temperature rises were already being felt long before 1.5 degrees centigrade had been breached. From wildfires in Australia and the United States, to catastrophic flooding in Pakistan and Valencia, extreme heat in Europe (including temperatures smashing through 40C in the UK in July 2022), and extreme hunger in the Horn of Africa, extreme climate-induced weather events are rarely out of the headlines. Time and again, scientists warn that the speed of warming is faster than expected, and the effects more severe – yet governments urge us to wait decades before acknowledging they have broken their promise, imperilling communities around the world, particularly in Global South nations least responsible for climate-heating emissions.

While sounding the death knell of the 1.5°C target, participants in today’s funeral procession will pledge to step up where politicians have failed, and will issue a powerful rallying cry to the public to join the many organisations and groups striving to limit temperature rises and prevent the worst effects of climate collapse. The groups will highlight that while it can feel overwhelming to act alone, coming together as part of a supportive community can be a powerful force for change.

Zoe Flint, a spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion Cambridge said: “Politicians have broken their promises to keep global temperature rises to a liveable 1.5°C. For decades, people around the world have been resisting environmental devastation in their own communities and beyond – often facing state repression and violence as a result. With dozens of political protesters now in prison in this country, that repression has come to the UK too. But when those least responsible for climate breakdown suffer the worst effects, we can’t afford to give up the fight.

“Every fraction of a degree of warming we can prevent will save lives. Politicians have endangered us all by allowing temperatures to burst through 1.5°C just a decade after the Paris pledge – and we are here today because we refuse to give in. We call on everyone to do what they can to protect people and planet, while there is still time to prevent the worst harm.”

Olympic gold medallist and a spokesperson for XR UK, Etienne Stott said: “Crossing 1.5°C for a whole calendar year is a wake up call for the world. If we want to avoid crossing further tipping points we need a complete transformation of society. There are levers policymakers can pull to rapidly phase out fossil fuels but this requires standing up to powerful interests. Activists need to build power, resilience and the world we want to see in our communities; but we also need to keep seeking the spark that will cause the worldwide transformation we need to see.”

About Extinction Rebellion

Extinction Rebellion (XR) is a decentralised, international and politically non-partisan movement using nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience to persuade governments to act justly on the Climate and Ecological Emergency.

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Time has almost entirely run out to address the climate and ecological crisis which is upon us, including the sixth mass species extinction, global pollution, and increasingly rapid climate change. If urgent and radical action isn’t taken, we’re heading towards 4˚C warming, leading to societal collapse and mass loss of life. The younger generation, racially marginalised communities and the Global South are on the frontline. No one will escape the devastating impacts.