Climate activists from Extinction Rebellion have staged a series of dramatic demonstrations across central London, delivering a stark warning that the world is on track to miss critical global warming targets.
Protest Targets Westminster Think Tank
The campaign group gathered outside 55 Tufton Street in Westminster on the morning of Saturday 20 December 2025. Holding signs with messages like "1.5 is dead" and "tell the truth", the protesters demanded urgent governmental action to curb the risks of escalating temperatures.
The location is significant as it houses the headquarters of the Global Warming Policy Foundation, a think tank known for challenging climate policies it deems economically damaging. Demonstrators adorned the building's door with a pink banner proclaiming "a better world is possible" and scattered black confetti across the scene.
A Sombre Procession Through Whitehall
The protest took on a theatrical and mournful tone. Some participants wore long black gowns and white masks, while others carried pink flags bearing the group's distinctive 'X' logo. The assembly then moved through the government district of Whitehall, pausing near the Ministry of Defence headquarters and the Houses of Parliament.
This visual spectacle aimed to underscore the gravity of the climate crisis and the perceived failure of political leaders to enact sufficient measures.
Scientific Forecast Fuels Activist Anger
The protest's timing and messaging were sharpened by a recent scientific projection. The Met Office has indicated that the coming year is likely to be the fourth consecutive year where global average temperatures exceed 1.4°C above pre-industrial levels.
This steady creep towards and beyond the 1.5°C threshold—a key goal of the Paris Agreement—formed the core of the activists' critique. Their declaration that "1.5 is dead" reflects a growing despair within the environmental movement about the pace of international action.
The Extinction Rebellion action serves as a vivid reminder of the intense pressure facing policymakers. With scientific warnings becoming increasingly urgent, such protests highlight the deepening divide between official climate pledges and the tangible actions demanded by campaigners and scientists alike.
