People power for global climate protection

A huge demonstration had been planned in Paris - but following terror attacks in the French capital November 13 that left 130 people dead, officials banned mass action. As a symbol of those who would have marched for climate protection, thousands of shoes were laid out at the Place de la Republique, including pairs belonging to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Pope Francis.

London's demonstration drew more than 50,000 people, according to Avaaz. Protestors demanded a green-energy future - a call to politicians, industry and civil society that was echoed around the world.

The People’s Climate March in Melbourne, Australia, kicked off the protests globally. Demonstrators were united to their call: "No to coal, yes to solar energy." Among those protesting were inhabitants of Pacific islands threatened by rising sea levels. Australia's pro-coal policy was singled out for criticism.

In Bangladesh - one of the countries most at risk from climate change - students came out in force to make their voices heard on the streets of Dhaka, the capital.

Protestors in Johannesburg demanded an end to the use of coal. The South African government continues to reply on the carbon-heavy fuel for the country's power supply - environmentalists there want a faster switch to wind and solar power.

"Don't cheat - save the climate," demand Ukrainian protestors in the capital of Kyiv. They demand a shift to 100 percent renewable energy. Conventional energy sources are at the heart of many troubles facing Ukrainian citizens: Regions of the country are still contaminated by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, and the country is in conflict with Russia in part over coal, gas and electricity.

"Give me a clean future" and "100 percent renewable energy" read placards at the climate protest in Rome. Italy knows well how fast a solar power supply can be developed - after Germany, it has more solar power plants than any other EU state. Protesters dressed as animals also drew a link between climate change and species extinction.

In Athens, activists were also calling for climate-friendly food production. Agriculture is responsible for a third of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, with meat and dairy by far the worst culprits. "Who is ready for change? Don’t wait, do it now. Save the planet and animals - go vegan," reads this placard.

A banner in Mexico City holds capitalism responsible for climate change. The link was made here between human greed and planetary stress.

So far, the global temperature has risen by nearly 1 degree Celsius as a result of climate-harmful emissions. Demonstrations in Berlin called for concrete action from the international climate summit - and for Germany to give up coal as soon as possible.