ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners have delivered a seven-day ultimatum to the government, demanding it enter talks about the climate emergency.

Extinction Rebellion and allies from almost 200 environmental and social justice groups, including the PCS union, Greenpeace and War on Want, delivered two demands today.

The alliance called for the government to halt the search for new fossil fuels immediately. And it also demanded the government should set up emergency citizens’ assemblies to let the people decide how to end the fossil fuel era, setting a deadline for ministers to enter into talks.

If ministers fail to respond by 5pm on Monday April 24, XR and allies have vowed to step up their campaigns and actions across the country to force them to do so. 

Rob Callender of XR said: “Four months ago, Extinction Rebellion announced ‘we quit’ and entered into a period of alliance-building with other movements and groups by temporarily stepping back from our tactics of civil disobedience.

“This is [the government’s] last chance to show us that they are serious about saving our lives and our futures by agreeing to enter negotiations around our demands.”

The two demands are the centrepiece of what the climate activists have called “The Big One,” a four-day protest in the area around Parliament starting on Friday. 

The environmental group says its new climate and social justice alliance will bring tens of thousands of people onto the streets of London.

Joe Davies of Don’t Pay UK said: “Don’t Pay UK are joining groups from across the UK to stand against the continuing destruction of the planet. 

“We have seen how energy price gouging from companies making extortionate amounts of money from a war in Europe has put people in the UK into a heat or eat situation.”

The Public & Commercial Services union’s Austin Harney said: “PCS has a vital role to play in joining The Big One in support of Extinction Rebellion. 

“A damage to our environment is a damage to us all. It is all the more reason that unions must resist through industrial action for the future of our workers and all their families.”