By Graziella Albuquerque, for NINJA Collaborative Coverage at COP26

Greta is one of the most important personalities at COP26. On Friday (29), young people held protests around the world to draw attention to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) considered as the “last chance to save the planet from the disastrous effects of climate change”, according to the UN.

In London, demonstrations were called by various environmental organizations such as Climate Justice, Fridays for Future, and Young Climate Warriors. And they were joined by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. They took up position in front of the headquarters of the Standard Chartered bank in the British capital. The activists called for banks to stop financing the use of fossil fuels.

“We are asking you to stop funding our destruction. The banks are still pouring huge amounts of money into fossil fuels that are destabilizing the planet and endangering the lives and livelihoods of countless people,” she said.

At her side was Mexican activist Adriana Calderon. “Standard Chartered Bank is one of the world’s biggest climate killers, a major investor in coal and oil mines in Africa, the Philippines and Latin America,” she said.

Activists from Spain, Belgium and Scotland marched through Glasgow city center under shouts such as “actions, not words” and “no more fossil fuels,” led by the group Extinction Rebellion.

In Tel Aviv, young people took to the streets with shouts and placards calling for urgent action: “We want the government of Israel to move,” said one protester.

Extinguishing the use of fossil fuels was also the watchword in several countries; in Sarajevo, Bosnia, artists made a dinosaur out of coal.

In Paris, a group criticized French banks and large energy companies for financing the use of this type of fuel.

This Sunday (31), in Rome, activists were in front of the Traiano Forum, where they put up signs that read “Climate and ecological crisis, governments have failed”.