Tens of thousands urge EU for climate action at Brussels demonstration

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day, reviewed by our editorial team. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Tens of thousands of people marched through Brussels on 11 October, urging European leaders to strengthen climate action ahead of the COP31 UN climate summit in Antalya, Turkey, next month
• Police estimated that 45,000 people attended, while organisers put the figure at around 60,000
• The demonstration was organised by Climate Coalition and supported by NGOs, trade unions, youth movements, universities and other civil society groups

🔭 The context: This summer’s record-breaking temperatures and successive heatwaves across Europe have intensified public concern about climate change and its human cost
• Protesters called for fossil fuel subsidies to be phased out, the fossil fuel industry to be taxed, more green spaces, a fair transition to a low-carbon economy, and stronger international cooperation
• Meanwhile, the EU faces pressure to balance climate commitments with energy security and economic competitiveness, as several governments reconsider environmental policies

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The demonstration highlights growing public pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as Europe experiences increasingly severe heat impacts
• Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies and accelerating clean energy deployment could help cut emissions while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels

⏭️ What’s next: COP31 will test whether the EU and other major economies can translate climate commitments into stronger action
• Expectations for a breakthrough remain low amid geopolitical tensions, high energy prices and weakening political support for ambitious climate policies
• The EU’s proposed delay to methane-emissions rules from 2027 to 2028 also raises questions about its commitment to near-term emissions reductions 

💬 One quote: “People actually died from the heat,” said Aimen Horch, president of the Green Party in Flanders and Brussels, describing the urgency behind the demonstrations.

📈 One stat: 45,000–60,000 people — the estimated turnout at the Brussels climate march, according to police and organisers, respectively

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