Last year, the Climate 9 stopped dangerous greenhouse gases reaching the atmosphere by disrupting operations at Aberdeen Airport.
After a two week trial the law found them guilty of breach of the peace but other charges were dropped, and in the court of international opinion they received overwhelming support, which was further legitimised by expert scientific testimony.
It was first time in Scotland that evidence of the dangers of climate change and aviation emissions had been presented by climate experts to a jury. Dr Alice Bows and Dr Geoff Meaden warned that government emissions targets are not radical enough to prevent future generations from experiencing catastrophic events, like the recent flooding in Brazil which left 100,000 people homeless, 42 dead and over a thousand missing.
They called for ordinary people to take action to limit greenhouse gas emissions before it's too late. Their statements went unchallenged by the Procurator Fiscal after Judge Colin Harris referred to the overwhelming scientific agreement that climate change is anthropogenic.
Horrific events like the Brazillian flood disaster are the justification for taking action to curb greenhouse gas emissions, especially when the response from our leaders is woefully inadequate. When governments talk, but nothing changes, people all over the world understand that we can't wait for permission to act - and sometimes that means taking direct action. The Climate 9's action was supported by people from all over the world, including villagers displaced by climate-induced flooding inIndia, faith leaders, public health experts and high-profile QCs.
While they are naturally disappointed that their selfless actions to stop CO2 emissions from Aberdeen Airport "breaching the peace" of the world's climate were not accorded a not guilty verdict, they can be proud of themselves. How to protect the climate for future generations is the most important global issue facing us, and high profile protests like Aberdeen help to ensure that our politicians can't keep ducking it.
Well done guys - our hats are off to you!
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