Climate Coalition activists to march in Brussels on 5 October

Thousands of people are expected to take to the streets of the capital for a Climate March on 5 October.

More than 100 member organisations of the Climate Coalition are participating in the action, including trade unions, health insurance funds, environmental associations, North-South NGOs, youth groups and citizen collectives.

The coalition urged governments “to shift public financing towards concrete, fair climate action, and to raise ambition to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement,” in an announcement ahead of the march.

Describing the climate crisis as the defining challenge of the 21st century, it accused governments of “hitting the pause button”.

In calling for public money “to fund a fair and ambitious climate policy,” the coalition said: “Yet billions in public funds are still poured into fossil fuel subsidies – more than €15 billion a year, with no plan to phase them out. Meanwhile, support for home renovation, nature protection and ambitious climate targets is being cut back.”

Protesters are due to set off from the corner of Boulevard Albert II/Boulevard du Jardin Botanique on Sunday at 13.00.

While the march aims to make a political statement, it is also designed to be a festive affair. A parade with giant costumes will kick it off with DJ sets punctuating the route. Rue Belliard is to be transformed into a “Choir Street” and the demonstration will conclude with concerts and speeches in Cinquantenaire Park.

Extra trains laid on for the march

Belgian rail is running additional trains on Sunday for demonstrators participating in the march, reports Bruzz. 

Three extra trains will serve Brussels-North. They depart from Gent-Sint-Pieters (11.21), Antwerp-Central (11.06) and Liège-Guillemins (11.06). The trains will also make an extra stop at the stations of Mechelen (11.26) and Leuven (11.37). In addition, SNCB-NMBS will increase the capacity of the S-trains in and around the capital.

The national rail network advises people travelling to the march to purchase a Weekend ticket, which is half the price of the standard ticket during the week. Ity also calls on participants to spread out across the different trains to ensure that all passengers can travel smoothly.

Although extra passengers are expected this weekend, rail network operator Infrabel announced it will be working on the tracks on various routes. As a result, the train offer is limited and replacement buses will be put in place for certain journeys.

This article was updated on 3 October to add information about the additional train service.