The Paris terror attack will not affect the forthcoming climate summit per se in the French capital where heads of states\governments will assemble on November 30 to give a political momentum to the crucial climate negotiations, but it may impact the events which are to be organized outside the conference venue or the ‘side’ events within the premises.
The biggest casualty is expected to be the ‘People’s climate march’ which is to take place on November 29 – a day before the inauguration of the November 30-December 11 climate summit. Thousands of people are expected to take part in the march.
It is expected that the event, participated by concerned citizens and NGOs to sensitize the world leaders for arriving at an effective climate deal to save the earth, will be scaled down due to many security-related restrictions. The incident may also affect the ‘side’ events and exhibits that will be organized in parallel with the negotiations.
Though the global NGOs have, so far, not got any official communication in this regard from the host country, their representatives in India apprehend such a move in the wake of the terror attack.
“Ensuring security to thousands, marching on the streets, will not be an easy task for the government. At the same time, French government would like to send a strong message to the attackers that it is not shaken by such cowardly and gruesome acts”, said Harjeet Singh, International climate policy manager at ActionAid.