POLICE “seized the Loch Ness Monster” this morning as protesters planned to use a giant inflatable on the river Clyde to highlight climate debt.
The Jubilee Debt Campaign say they intended to float the eight-metre-long Nessie replica along the Clyde in an effort to raise awareness of the growing threat of debt burdens for lower income countries.
READ MORE: COP26 LIVE: Day three of UN climate crisis summit in Glasgow
The campaign stunt comes as the UN climate conference discusses finance today.
But the group says police seized Nessie at 7am under Section 20 of the Police and Fire Reform Act.
Eva Watkinson, head of campaigns at Jubilee Debt Campaign, said: “The debt crisis facing lower income countries has been excluded from debate at COP26 and now police have prevented the ‘Loch Ness Debt Monster’ from highlighting this fundamental issue.
“Lower income countries’ unsustainable debt is preventing them from fighting the climate crisis. And when climate disasters hit, countries are pushed into further debt to pay for reconstruction.
“Rich polluting countries created the climate crisis and should take responsibility by cancelling the debts of countries that need it and ensuring climate finance is given in grants, not more loans.”
Chris Sinckler of the Caribbean Policy Development Centre urged developed countries to “accept the moral responsibility to act now to halt this looming disaster” by agreeing a comprehensive debt relief and climate finance package.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Officers seized a large inflatable due to be launched on the River Clyde as it breached the maritime restrictions in place to maintain public safety and security close to the COP26 venue."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel