CLIMATE activists from Extinction Rebellion (XR) held a three-day series of protests near Windsor Castle last weekend.

Among the protestors were members of XR Wimborne who attended the ‘Upgrade Democracy’ action to raise awareness of the need for a citizens’ assembly on the climate and nature crises.

Windsor Castle is one of the homes of King Charles and Queen Camilla. King Charles has often made clear his concern for the environment.

XR were calling for the new government to act on climate change Picture: Wimborne XR

In 2020 he said, “Global warming, climate change, the devastating loss of biodiversity are the greatest threats that humanity has ever faced.”

A highlight of the action was the performance by XR’s black-clad Oil Slicks on ‘The Long Walk’ where they posed for an iconic photograph with Windsor Castle in the background.

“Our new government is not doing anywhere near enough to protect us from climate change and environmental collapse,” said Professor James Bullock of XR Wimborne.

“Government is using outdated climate targets that fail to account for the latest science in the Paris Agreement, and global equity, is set to approve new North Sea oil licences issued by the last government, is expanding aviation and has an MP that is a trustee of the UK’s leading climate change denial group.

“As we predicted, a change of government won’t be able to fix things, because it is the underlying system that is at fault.”

Wimborne XR members joined in with the three day action Picture: Wimborne XR

Since its inception in 2018, XR has been calling for a citizens’ assembly on climate and ecological justice.

“When it comes to addressing the climate and nature crises we see politicians side with the fossil fuel industry and other vested interests while the world goes up in flames,” said Joanna Bury of XR Wimborne.

“Upgrade Democracy put our demand for a citizens’ assembly centre stage, where the stage is one of the several luxury country residences of our unelected head of state.

The climate activists were calling for change Picture: Wimborne XR

“Citizen Assemblies have been used across the world to great effect.

“They allow solutions to hot potato issues that governments either don’t have the stomach to address, or don’t fall within the short termism approach of our five year democratic cycle.”

An XR Wimborne spokesperson said: “The weekend featured a fUNFAIR, a creative take on the traditional funfair. A Massembly on Saturday was one of the largest participatory, democratic events ever held in the UK.

“Participants explored the question ‘How might we take meaningful steps to upgrade democracy?’ The Massembly built on XR’s experience of holding around 25 community assemblies around the country over the last year.”