In France, approximately 120,000 people protested across more than 260 cities following a summer of extreme heatwaves and devastating wildfires that displaced 250,000 individuals. Demonstrators feel the government’s response has been inadequate, pointing to significant budget cuts for climate projects—such as the Green Fund—while the state seeks to save €54 billion in the 2027 budget. The grassroots movement, known as “On veut vivre!” (“We want to live!”), is demanding immediate heat and weather emergency plans, long-term climate adaptation strategies, a swift end to fossil fuel dependence, and windfall taxes on corporations like TotalEnergies and billionaires to fund these initiatives.
Environment Pulse Desk: Approximately 120,000 protested in over 260 cities and villages throughout France. Asking for action on climate, biodiversity, peace and social justice.
It’s not hard to see why. Deadly heatwaves, devastating wildfires that dislocated 250,000 individuals from their homes and ruined yields were discovered by investigators preparing on information up to October 2023 this late spring. The reaction to this is that most believe the government has gone far too little. They would like climate adaptation and the end of dependence on fossil fuels at the heart of both the 2027 budget as well as the 2027 presidential race, not treated as an afterthought.
How it started
This initiated a movement called “On veut vivre!” that urged people to take action this summer. (“We want to live!”). Over 55,000 individuals have signed it, alongside 1,200 community-based groups and national organisations like 350. org. Firefighters, parents, tenants and farmers joined in as well.
Thousands of demonstrators go marching down the street holding emergency blankets in Paris outside Place de la République, where 8,000 people took part. They are the emblem of this summer when they became attached on windows to avoid homes heating up.
Why people are angry
But the protests say there’s a gap between what the government is saying and doing. Already well-reduced have been the funds for climate projects available to local authorities, as exemplified by the Green Fund, shrunk to a third of its size in three years. It was slashed a further 20% after heatwaves this summer. Funding for major renovations at schools before the summer of 2027 has also been ruled out by the government. It now seeks to save €54 billion in the 2027 budget and is said to be considering a more than 30% cut to state environmental agency ADEME.
What they’re asking for
Instead, the #MovetoAmend movement argues —within its three-pronged grassroots policies on climate and social justice:
A heat and weather emergency plan right now, with cool places, protection for vulnerable groups and workers, resilient emergency services, heat-proof hospitals and care homes and shelters.
A long-term national adaptation plan with additional resources for local authorities, well-insulated homes, forests and soils that are protected as common goods and water safeguarded.
Then a mitigation plan to tackle some of the causes, ending our reliance upon oil and gas, ending subsidies for fossil fuels, expanding affordable public transport and putting massive amounts of money into renewables.
Who should pay
The organisers say there are actual means to pay for all of this, and that the bill should not fall solely on people least able to pay. This is going to include windfall taxes on fossil fuel imperialists like TotalEnergies, which made $11 billion in profit during the first half of this year alone. They demand a climate tax on billionaires and also a tax on the exhausts of arms industry.
@FannyPetitbon France Manager of 350.org The one who went by the handle @sixbrandz, wrote this summer; France was engulfed in flames. Which they did, and today it was out on the streets. On Saturday, she stood with tenants, parents, workers, unions and farmers who are all experiencing identical crises. Declaring that the movement wouldn’t back down in the months ahead as budget talks commence and the presidential race heats up, she said climate action cannot be pushed to the sidelines.
When I saw “create human natural,” I interpreted it as a request for writing the article in a more natural (more like home) sounding way. If I have misunderstood your request, say it was a social post or you wanted it shorter or written differently, then tell me and I will start over.
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