In NYC and elsewhere, climate protesters say pace of change isn't fast enough

NEW YORK (AP) — Six years after a teenage Greta Thunberg walked out of school in a solitary climate protest outside of the Swedish parliament, people around a warming globe marched in youth-led protest, saying their voices are being heard but not sufficiently acted upon.

Emissions of heat-trapping gases and temperatures have been rising and oil and gas drilling has continued even as the protests that kicked off major weeklong climate events in New York City have become annual events. This year, they come days before the United Nations convenes two special summits, one concentrating on sea level rise and the other on the future.

The young people who organized these marches with Fridays for Future said there is frustration with inaction but also hope. People marched in Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, New Delhi and elsewhere, but the focus often is in New York City because of Climate Week NYC. Diplomats, business leaders and activists are concentrating their discussions on the money end of fighting climate change — something not lost on protesters.

“We hope that the government and the financial sector make polluters pay for the damage that they have imposed on our environment,” said Uganda Fridays for Future founder Hilda Flavia Nakabuye, who was among a few hundred marching in New York Friday, a far cry from the tens of thousands that protested in a multi-group mega-rally in 2023.

The New York protest wants to take aim at “the pillars of fossil fuels” — companies that pollute, banks that fund them, and leaders who are failing on climate, said Helen Mancini, an organizer and a senior at the city’s Stuyvesant High School.

“A lot of older people want to make sure the economy is intact and that's their main concern,” said Julia Demairo, a sophomore at Pace University. “I think worrying about the future and the environment is worrying about the economy.”

On a day that was at least 8 degrees warmer than average, protest signs included “This is not what we mean by Hot Girl Summer," while others focused on the theme of fighting the coal, oil and gas industries: “Youth Didn't Vote for Fossil Fuels,” “Don't Be a Fossil Fool” and “Climate Crisis = Extermination By Capitalism."

Nakabuye said she was in New York to represent Uganda “that is bearing the brunt of the climate crisis.”

“We feel like we are creating an impact in the community. However, we are not listened to enough; there is more that needs to be done, especially right now when the climate catastrophes are intensifying,” said Nakabuye . “We need to even raise our voices more to demand change and to demand that fuels should end."

In the six years since Thunberg founded what became Fridays for Future, global carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels has increased by about 2.15%, according to Global Carbon Project, a group of scientists who monitor carbon pollution. The growth of emissions has slowed compared to previous decades and experts anticipate peaking soon, but that's a far cry from the 43% reduction that a UN report said is needed to keep temperature increases to an agreed-upon limit.

Since 2019, carbon dioxide emissions from coal have increased by nearly 1 billion tons (900 million metric tons), while natural gas emissions have increased slightly and oil pollution has dropped a tiny amount, according to the International Energy Agency. That growth has been driven by China, India and developing nations.

But emissions from advanced or industrialized economies have been falling and in 2023 were the lowest in more than 50 years, according to the IEA. Coal emissions in rich countries are down to levels seen around the year 1900, and the United Kingdom next month is set to shutter its last coal plant.

In the past five years, clean energy sources have grown twice as fast as fossil fuels, with both solar and wind individually growing faster than fossil fuel-based electricity, according to the IEA. Developing countries — where more than 80% of the world population lives — say that they need financial help to curb their increasing use of fossil fuels.

Since 2018, Earth has warmed more than half a degree Fahrenheit (0.29 degrees Celsius) with last year setting a record for the hottest year and this year poised to break that mark, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the European climate agency Copernicus.

“We're making progress, even if it's slow progress,” said 17-year-old Ashen Harper of Connecticut, a veteran protester turned organizer. “Our job right now is to accelerate that progress.”

In Berlin, hundreds of people took to the streets although in fewer numbers than in previous years. Activists held up signs saying “Save the Climate” and “Coal is Over!” as they watched a gig put on outside the German Chancellor’s Office. Protesters in London held up letters spelling out “Pay Up,” calling for the country to pay more to adapt to climate change and transition away from fossil fuels.

Associated Press journalist David Keyton in Berlin contributed to this report.

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A girl holds a banner with a message that reads in Portuguese: "Stop setting fires in nature", during a global climate protest in Brasilia, Brazil, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Protesters carry placards as they cross the Brooklyn Bridge during a Youth Climate Strike march to demand an end to the era of fossil fuels, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Protesters cross the Brooklyn Bridge during a Youth Climate Strike march to demand an end to the era of fossil fuels, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Protesters carry placards as they cross the Brooklyn Bridge during a Youth Climate Strike march to demand an end to the era of fossil fuels, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

People demonstrate with a sign reading "stop fossil fuels" in the City of Bochum, western Germany, as they take part in a Global Climate Strike protest of the Fridays For Future movement on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Protesters cross the Brooklyn Bridge during a Youth Climate Strike march to demand an end to the era of fossil fuels, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

A girl takes part in a Fridays for Future protest in Frankfurt, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Protesters shout slogans as they cross the Brooklyn Bridge during a Youth Climate Strike march to demand an end to the era of fossil fuels, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

A kid holds a placard during a Fridays for Future protest in Frankfurt, Germany, Friday Sept. 20, 2024. (Boris Roessler/dpa via AP)

People demonstrate for the the 1.5 Celsius Climate threshold in the City of Bochum, western Germany, as they take part in a Global Climate Strike protest of the Fridays For Future movement on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

People demonstrate in the City of Bochum, western Germany, as they take part in a Global Climate Strike protest of the Fridays For Future movement on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Demonstrators of the Fridays For Future movement march through the government district near the chancellery, background left, as they take part in a Global Climate Strike in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Activists shout slogans during a Global Climate Strike protest of the Fridays For Future' movement demanding immediate climate action from policymakers in New Delhi, India, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Protestors show placards as they take part in a Global Climate Strike protest of the Fridays For Future' movement near the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

A man works on a painting as he takes part in a Global Climate Strike protest of the Fridays For Future movement near the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Activists shout slogans during a Global Climate Strike protest of the Fridays For Future' movement demanding immediate climate action from policymakers in New Delhi, India, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Demonstrators walk across Munich's Königsplatz with a placard reading "Stop fossil subsidies" during Fridays for Future protest in Munich, Germany, Friday Sept. 20, 2024. (Felix Hörhager/dpa via AP)

Protesters hold letters and shout during a global week of action for climate finance and a fossil free future protest in London, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Students hold placards as they take part in a Global Climate Strike protest, part of the Fridays For Future movement, near the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

A demonstrator holds a placard reading "Politics - Climate - Change" during a Fridays for Future protest in Munich, Germany, Friday Sept. 20, 2024. (Felix Hörhager/dpa via AP)

Demonstrators walk across Munich's Königsplatz with a placard reading "Stop fossil subsidies" during Fridays for Future protest in Munich, Germany, Friday Sept. 20, 2024. (Felix Hörhager/dpa via AP)

Protestors show posters as they take part in a Global Climate Strike protest of the Fridays For Future' movement near the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Protestors show placards as they take part in a Global Climate Strike protest of the Fridays For Future' movement near the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

A demonstrator dressed in a Spiderman costume takes part in a march calling on the government to take stronger action to control fires in the country's Amazon region, in Lima, Peru, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Guadalupe Pardo)

Demonstrators march calling on the government to take stronger action to control fires in the country's Amazon region, in Lima, Peru, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Guadalupe Pardo)

FILE - Environmental activist Greta Thunberg shouts slogans during the Oily Money Out protest outside the Intercontinental Hotel, in London, Oct. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

FILE - Environmental activists including Greta Thunberg, center left, marches with other demonstrators during the Oily Money Out protest at Canary Wharf, in London, Oct. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

FILE - Climate activists attend a rally to end fossil fuels, in New York, Sept. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston, File)

A man works on a painting as he takes part in a Global Climate Strike protest of the Fridays For Future movement near the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Protesters hold letters and shout during a global week of action for climate finance and a fossil free future protest in London, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

CINCINNATI (AP) — After opening the season as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns facing the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Flacco will close the season as the backup for the Bengals as they face the Browns on Sunday.

Flacco was dealt to the Bengals in October and made six starts for the Bengals while Joe Burrow was out with a toe injury.

“I don’t really think about putting a label on it,” Flacco said. “It’s crazy. Seasons always go by quick once they’ve started. But the way that this one went, it seems like it flew by.”

During the summer, in Cleveland Browns training camp, Flacco won a competition for the starting quarterback job and made four starts for Cleveland. In Week 1 against the Bengals, Flacco threw for 290 yards.

He said that over the past 17 weeks, he has seen improvement from the Bengals defense. Now, he refers to the Bengals defense as his team’s defense.

“We’re stopping the run,” Flacco said. “We’re getting more pressure on the quarterback. When you combine those two things, it’s going to help you out.”

While Flacco went 1-5 as a starter in Cincinnati, the 40-year-old played well. He threw for at least 200 yards in four of his six starts, and the Bengals offense averaged more than 27 points per game.

Flacco said that he developed a lot of respect for Bengals coach Zac Taylor.

“He has a lot of strengths,” Flacco said. “He’s really good at what he does. His demeanor, his overall personality and the way he leads men is really good. The way he puts game plans together. Also, he’s willing to allow it to be collaborative. That’s a strength. His game day play-calling is also something he does really well.”

Burrow took over as the starter when he returned on Thanksgiving, and Flacco has been the backup over the past month.

Flacco will be a free agent again at the end of the season. As he evaluates his options, he’s hoping to find another chance to play and to start.

“That’s always a priority,” Flacco said. “I’m somebody who wants to play football. You’ve got to assess and see whatever is thrown your way. You have to go from there and see what you can do about it.”

He said that he’d be open to returning to the Bengals, but he’ll weigh several factors.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” Flacco said. “I don’t hope to do anything. I have an idea of maybe of what some goals would be. I’ll go from there and see what happens.”

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco throws during pregame warmups before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) calls a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)