In brief

• More than 10,000 people, according to organizers, marched in Antalya during the midpoint of the UN climate conference COP31.
• Protesters criticized the slow pace of negotiations and demanded that industrialized countries contribute more money to climate action.
• Authorities approved the march, though police checked banners; the conference is set to end on Friday.

Protest marches through Antalya

Organizers said more than 10,000 people took part in a march through the center of Antalya on Saturday, about half an hour by car from the venue of the UN climate conference COP31 (Protest bei der COP in Antalya: Mehr Klimagerechtigkeit gefordert – tagesschau.de) (Türkei - Tausende demonstrieren bei UNO-Klimakonferenz in Antalya - "Gipfel der Völker" startet – Deutschlandfunk) (Türkei: Mehr als 10.000 Menschen protestieren während Klimakonferenz – ZEIT ONLINE). Participants carried large puppets, banners and placards calling for stronger climate action and what they describe as climate justice (Weltklimakonferenz: Regenbogen trotz Razzien: Tausende demonstrieren in Türkei – ZEIT ONLINE).

Frustration over slow progress

The demonstration came at the midpoint of the talks, and many activists said little had been achieved so far. Tendai Makanza, an economist from Zimbabwe, said participants agreed on broad goals but no one was addressing how they would be carried out, when, or who would pay for them. Activists said sub-Saharan Africa is already feeling the effects of climate change.

Broad coalition, police checks

International organizations, Turkish associations, trade unions and opposition parties joined the march, and protesters chanted slogans against the governing AKP party. Authorities had approved the demonstration, but police checked placards and banners. Civil society groups are also meeting in Antalya for a parallel event known as the People's Summit, where environmental destruction and phasing out fossil fuels are on the agenda in the coming days. Reporting noted that protest opportunities in Turkey are limited, which made the event unusual.

What comes next

The UN climate secretariat chief, Simon Stiell, urged negotiators to avoid tactical delays and tackle the hardest questions quickly. The conference is scheduled to conclude on Friday.