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Climate change: Thousands march across the UK Climate change: Thousands march across the UK
(about 1 hour later)
Thousands of people are taking part in a march for climate action in London - one of more than 2,000 marches taking place around the world. Thousands of people have taken part in a march for climate action in London - one of more than 2,000 marches taking place around the world.
Campaigners including actress Emma Thompson and singer Peter Gabriel have been marching along Embankment to a rally in Parliament Square. Campaigners, including actress Emma Thompson and singer Peter Gabriel, marched along Embankment to a rally in Parliament Square.
Other marches in the UK were due to take place in Manchester, Edinburgh, Sheffield, Stroud and Dudley. Other marches in the UK were taking place in Manchester, Edinburgh, Sheffield, Stroud and Dudley.
Organisers said they expected more than 10,000 people to take part in London.Organisers said they expected more than 10,000 people to take part in London.
It comes ahead of a summit for 125 heads of state and government at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday. Co-organiser Avaaz later claimed at least 40,000 people had participated.
Meanwhile, at a rally in Manchester, close to the Labour Party conference, hundreds of campaigners called on party leader Ed Miliband to make a manifesto pledge to ban fracking.
The demonstrations come ahead of a summit on Tuesday for 125 heads of state and government at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
'Carnival atmosphere''Carnival atmosphere'
The march began at 13:00 BST. The London march began at 13:00 BST.
At 15:00 BST, the march was still more than a mile long, organisers told BBC News.At 15:00 BST, the march was still more than a mile long, organisers told BBC News.
The BBC's Andy Moore said the rally was in full swing and had so far heard from speakers including the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, and fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood. The rally heard from speakers including the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, and fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood.
He said a vast coalition of interests were taking part - everyone from the Women's Institute to Occupy London, from the British Medical Association to Greenpeace and thousands of ordinary people. Actress Emma Thompson told the rally: "Climate change is the human rights issue of our time.
"No more are we the grungy hippies sitting in trees. We are the voice of the future - if there is to be a future."
The BBC's Andy Moore said a vast coalition of interests had taken part in the London march - everyone from the Women's Institute to Occupy London, from the British Medical Association to Greenpeace and thousands of ordinary people.
Earlier, Bert Wander, of campaign group Avaaz, told the BBC News website: "It's a really wonderful celebratory atmosphere here.Earlier, Bert Wander, of campaign group Avaaz, told the BBC News website: "It's a really wonderful celebratory atmosphere here.
"It's like watching a carnival - there are giraffes and lions, snowflakes and families marching."It's like watching a carnival - there are giraffes and lions, snowflakes and families marching.
"We've got all the big organisations, Oxfam, the WWF but also organisations you wouldn't necessarily expect - the Quakers, all sorts of organisations and groups."We've got all the big organisations, Oxfam, the WWF but also organisations you wouldn't necessarily expect - the Quakers, all sorts of organisations and groups.
"I'm looking down Embankment and there are people as far as the eye can see.""I'm looking down Embankment and there are people as far as the eye can see."
'Social justice''Social justice'
Emma Thompson, speaking on the march, told Sky News: "I realise now that this issue affects everything. Meanwhile, members of Frack Free Greater Manchester were joined by Green Party leader Natalie Bennett and trade unionists in a rally near the Labour conference in March.
"It's an issue of social justice, of human rights of poverty - everything. "It is really interesting that so many people here weren't even activists six months ago or involved in politics but more and more people are being energised saying we don't want fracking in our back garden or anywhere in Britain," Ms Bennett said.
"There were 22 million displaced by climate change in 2013 but, of course, nobody minds about that because they're poor - they don't count." The fracking process involves pumping water, sand and chemicals into rock at high pressure, and it has sparked demonstrations by environmentalists.
She said the march was: "The beginning to a tipping point" and added: "What I will be suggesting is that everyone tries to switch their energy providers to renewables." Critics argue that fracking contaminates water supplies and can cause earthquakes.
Green Party MP and former leader Caroline Lucas, who is also on the London march, has said: "The climate issue is inextricably linked to injustice". However, a government report published in June 2012 concluded that fracking was safe if adequately monitored.
Writing on her blog, she said: "We need to leave the vast majority of existing fossil fuels in the ground. In Newcastle, about 150 people marched from Newcastle's central library to the city's Civic Centre.
"We should be leading the way to a zero carbon economy.
"Instead, we're being locked into continued reliance on polluting energy sources, whether shale gas from Sussex or oil from the Arctic."
Universal agreementUniversal agreement
BBC environment correspondent Matt McGrath said Tuesday's meeting would be the first such gathering since the unsuccessful Copenhagen conference in 2009.BBC environment correspondent Matt McGrath said Tuesday's meeting would be the first such gathering since the unsuccessful Copenhagen conference in 2009.
The meeting will attempt to push forward political momentum towards a new universal agreement on climate to be signed by all nations at the end of 2015.The meeting will attempt to push forward political momentum towards a new universal agreement on climate to be signed by all nations at the end of 2015.
Between 100,000-150,000 people are expected to join a march in New York later.Between 100,000-150,000 people are expected to join a march in New York later.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and actor Leonardo di Caprio are among those who will join the Manhattan demonstration. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and actor Leonardo DiCaprio are among those who will join the Manhattan demonstration.
Tens of thousands of people also took to the streets in Australia while protests are also getting under way in other parts of Europe. Tens of thousands of people also took to the streets in Australia, while protests are also getting under way in other parts of Europe.