Rising to the call of Swedish climate crusader Greta Thunberg for a second Global Climate Strike on September 27, hundreds of climate activists, cine artistes, lawyers, social activists, slum dwellers, street vendors and academicians congregated near the Jayadev Bhavan here to lodge their protest against future climate threats.

They held placards and hand-drawn posters with mentions of ill effects of climate change and global warming and conducted a stand-on protest for an hour.

The protest was organised by jointly by the Focus Odisha Foundation and the Sahabhagi Vikash Manch.

The organisers planced 11 demands before the Union and the State Governments for early execution. They wanted that climate hotspots be identified in the State and a long term and sustainable climate road map drawn, Paris Climate Agreement implemented.

“We appeal to Governments to take corrective actions and adopt climate change policy that will minimize CO2 and other green house gas emissions, to ensure alternative energy potentials besides promoting public transportation systems,” said programme convenor Sudarshan Chhotoray, who let the protest. 

The protesters decided to send a memorandum to both the Union and State Governments and to the United Nations.

Among others, Subas Panda of the SNEH, Suresh Panigrahy of the Odisha Krushak Sabha, Tapasi Praharaj of the AIDWA, film actor Anu Chaudhary, Anil Pradhan of  Sikshasandhan, Dr Shisir Das, Sharmila Patnaik and Sachikanta Pradhan of the Sahabhagi Vikas Manch, Debabrata Patra of the Action Aid, Snigdha Panigrahi, lawer Chinmayee Panda, Itishree Kanungo of the Climate Parliament, Dr JK Panigrahy of the OES, Jugal Kishore Patnaik of the Mahashakti Foundation, Lora Mahapatra of the Waris Foundation participated.