A column of activists marched from Kelvingrove Park to the city centre, where they held a rally on Glasgow Green. Some of them explained why they felt it was crucial to be present. 

Hugo Tagholm, chief executive of Surfers Against Sewage, has travelled from Cornwall to Glasgow for the rally. The 46-year-old told BBC, “The ocean is front and centre of the impact of climate change but it is also part of the solution.”

He stated that supporters of the charity were taking part in events across the nation to raise awareness about the impact of human and plastic waste.

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He added, “I think campaigners are having an effect and I believe the next decade will be the most radical period of environmental action the world has ever seen.”

Charlie Rohan, a retired designer, travelled from Edinburgh to take part in the march. He made his own sign for the occasion, but as the rain poured, he confessed, “The cardboard is getting heavier by the minute.” 

When asked why he made the trip, the father-of-two asserted, “This is our one and only chance. If we do not act now, COP 27, 28, and 29 will be a waste of time.” 

The 61-year-old is an avid walker who has expressed dismay at the amount of trash washed up on Scotland’s coastlines. He added, “The UK says it is a leader on climate change but we need to follow that through.”

Ruby Hembrom is marching to bring attention to the plight of people in India. She told BBC, “When you look at climate change the most vulnerable people will be the most impacted. 

“Indigenous people are forced from the forests due to coal and mining projects. “The consequences are devastating.”

Sophie Grig, senior campaigner with Survival International, joined Ruby Hembrom. The group operates to assist indigenous peoples all over the world, particularly those who are persecuted or displaced.

She said, “We have to stop burning and extracting fossil fuels. “And we have to end the suffering of indigenous communities.”