Europe’s missing climate marches – replaced by tractor convoys?

Climate alarmists complain their manufactured hysteria pot is cooling down, as protest focus has switched to other issues and/or boredom set in as the novelty wore off. Instead the victims of dogmatic net zero diktats, such as farmers, drive onto the streets of EU capitals to air their grievances. Is a return to political reality anywhere in sight?
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Ahead of the 2019 European Parliament elections, Europe was rocked by massive climate marches, says Euractiv.

But as the 2024 elections approach, the streets remain silent.

As a series of climate marches swept across Europe in spring 2019, Brussels was no exception. At the movement’s peak, 70,000 people massed in the EU quarter to loudly demand greater climate action.

The mobilisation paid off: The subsequent electoral ‘green wave’ unleashed five years of ambitious climate lawmaking.

Five years later, Europe is again getting ready to vote, but this time, climate marches are small and scattered. Neither record-breaking global temperatures nor threats to the Green Deal have been enough to motivate protestors to return to the streets en masse.

Euractiv spoke to activists and academics to understand why.
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The kids are all grown up
Young people were a clear inspiration for the wider climate marches that hit Europe in 2019, particularly the children who skipped school to protest. This youth movement is far less visible today.

“I don’t think the movement exists anymore. Not like it did a few years ago,” said Dr. Kenis.

While many young leaders remain active in climate action – with several chasing European Parliament – wider youth engagement has slumped.

While young people’s interests and priorities invariably change as they grow, Brussels climate activist Moffett also cited COVID restrictions and pressure from parents as reasons why the youth movement has dissipated.

Catching the next wave
Dr Joost de Moor, assistant professor at Science Po in France, argued that “sooner or later, numbers were going down anyhow. This probably has more to do with a loss of momentum and excitement than a drop in climate concerns.”

Full article here.