Climate activists stage sit-in demonstration at Aberdeen harbour in 'just transition' demand

Climate activists are staging a sit-in at Aberdeen Harbour in a protest over plans to turn a green space into a business park.

As many as a hundred people broke through a security cordon at Torry Marine Base on Sunday afternoon following a demonstration against the proposals for an “energy transition zone” at St Fittick’s Park.

Around 150 people from across the UK pitched tents and joined fellow protesters from Climate Camp Scotland during the start of the demonstration in the area last week.

A peaceful rally in the city centre later led to some walking towards the harbour and gaining entry beyond the security gates.

Police Scotland said the demonstration would be handled “proportionately and appropriately”.

Protesters had been stationed in St Fittick's Park. — Protesters had been stationed in St Fittick’s Park. Climate Camp Scotland

Activists have accused the city council of “sacrificing” the green space to industrial development and called for a low emissions zone to be “fair and just”.

Sunday’s protest also targeted major polluters and demanded further moves away from the use of fossil fuels.

Jessica Gaitán Johannesson, a spokesperson for Climate Camp Scotland, said: “As the pressure mounts on companies and the UK government to bring carbon emissions down, we need to be honest about their true priorities.

“These are not to save lives and livelihoods, but to hold on to power and wealth at all costs. Allowing the power over an energy transition to stay in the hands of fossil fuel executives will not only result in emissions continuing to rise – and increased climate catastrophe for all.

“It will also lead to worse suffering for those who did the least to cause climate collapse, in Aberdeen and around the world. What we all need is a redistribution of power and resources: a just transition led by the communities with the most to lose.”

Port of Aberdeen did not respond when contacted by STV News for comment.