Carnival-themed protests against climate change
About 2,000 activists, some dressed in costumes, took to the streets in Bonn demanding urgent action to fight climate change. The colorful protests coincided with the beginning of the Carnival season in Germany.
Carnival flair
The protest kicked off in Bonn's city center at 11.11 a.m. local time (1011 UTC) to coincide with the start of the Carnival season in Germany. To mark the day, people don fancy dress costumes and party on the streets in cities like Cologne. The protesters complimented the carnival spirit with anti-climate change messages.
Message for Trump
A protestor dressed as US President Donald Trump was driven by a fleet of polar bears in a Volkswagen convertible — the German automaker involved in cheating on diesel emissions tests. Jens Galschiot, the activist behind the float, said his main criticism was aimed at Trump’s decision to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement.
'Trump climate genocide'
Protesters carried a huge banner, saying "Trump climate genocide." Trump plans to pull the US out of 2015 Paris climate accord, which experts say would severely undermine global efforts to combat climate change.
Nuclear waste
The protesters were accompanied by a host of climate-themed floats, including a pirate ship navigating a sea of nuclear waste. Germany is set to shutter its nuclear power plants by 2022 but concerns remain over how to safely store the waste.
Rising temperatures
Two protesters dressed up as thermometers to underscore the urgency of the problem. In a bid to keep global warming at bay, countries have agreed to keep the rise in temperature below two degrees Celsius (35 degrees Fahrenheit) - ideally at around 1.5 degrees. But there are fears the target won't be met.
Say no to coal
German activists reiterated their demand of winding down coal mines in the country. Germany is yet to set a date for phasing out of coal, which makes up around 40 percent of its energy mix.