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Activists arrive at COP26 with strong messages urging swift climate action

It wasn't just world leaders at the global climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, this week. Sign-wielding environmental advocacy groups also were there to make their messages heard.

Katie Collins
Katie a UK-based news reporter and features writer. Officially, she is CNET's European correspondent, covering tech policy and Big Tech in the EU and UK. Unofficially, she serves as CNET's Taylor Swift correspondent. You can also find her writing about tech for good, ethics and human rights, the climate crisis, robots, travel and digital culture. She was once described a "living synth" by London's Evening Standard for having a microchip injected into her hand.
Katie Collins
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Outside of the secure zone where the bigwigs met at COP26, environmental groups led marches and protests around Glasgow on Friday, with varied messages about the urgency of tackling the climate crisis. 

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All of the groups had a similar aim: Remind the conference participants that the group's were paying attention to the negotiations.

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Some messages were hopeful.

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Others were more pointed.

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This "Scrap Trident" sign refers to the UK's nuclear weapons program. The country's nuclear missile- carrying submarines are based in Scotland. 

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Most signs demanded immediate action to address climate change. 

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Beneath holiday decorations in Glasgow's George Square, people crowd around an equestrian statue to hear climate activist Greta Thunberg speak.

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Many of the protesters wore masks. Across the square are Glasgow's City Chambers. 

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Some signs were too big to be carried.

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This sign refers to the Fridays for Future climate strike. Many communities, including LGBTQ people, were represented among the activists.

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Some demonstrators evoked climate justice, a movement that sees the climate crisis as bigger than just a scientific problem. 

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And many pointed out that addressing climate change isn't just the responsibility of governments and business.

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Many protesters had a message for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. 

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People of all ages carried signs around Glasgow. Friday's protests took place on COP26's youth day.

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Images of fire to depict a warming world were common. 

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Protesters from Indigenous communities have come to Glasgow from around the world.

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A climate strike on Saturday was one of 300 that happened around the world.

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Glasgow's marches were led by Indigenous communities.

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Around 100,000 people protested in Glasgow on Saturday.

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Organizers estimated that half a million people attended protests across the UK.

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Groups brought signs, costumes and artworks to the protests.

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Glasgow's march was followed by a rally.

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