Extinction Rebellion: Edinburgh climate activists to stage protest in Leith’s Victoria Quay today

Climate change activists from Extinction Rebellion (XR) are set to stage an eye-catching protest outside the Scottish Government’s Victoria Quay offices in Leith this afternoon.

The group, which made headlines earlier this month when several members climbed onto the roof of the Scottish Parliament, says low-lying Leith will become a victim of regular flooding by 2050 if action against sea-level rise is not taken.

XR told reporters to “expect inflatables, boats, snorkels, swimwear and flippers” at their 1:30pm demonstration.

The group hopes to draw attention to the global threat posed by widespread flooding too.

Climate change activists from Extinction Rebellion (XR) are set to stage an eye-catching protest outside the Scottish Government’s Victoria Quay offices in Leith this afternoon. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

In a report published last year, experts estimated that 230 million people around the world live on land less than 1 metre above high tide levels - and around one billion on land less than 10 metres above high tide levels.

Meg Peyton Jones, a biology student at the University of Edinburgh and XR supporter, said: “The climate crisis has already displaced millions around the world, often due to flooding which destroys people’s homes, livelihoods and safety.

“This should be enough to make our governments act now. However, as they set targets decades in the future, while continuing to encourage maximum economic recovery of fossil fuels, we remind them that disaster is a very real threat to people in Edinburgh too.”

Ahead of the demonstration, Chief Inspector Scott Richardson, of Police Scotland, said: "We are aware of planned protest activity due to take place in Edinburgh on Saturday, 17 October, 2020.

On October 8, activists from XR climbed onto the roof of the Scottish Parliament and unveiled a Trainspotting-style banner that read “Choose Oil or Choose Life”. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

“Appropriate policing resources will be deployed to maintain the safety of the public and minimise disruption to affected communities.”

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