Fiery robe, 5-metre long train: Climate activist shows forest in flames at COP28

Have you seen a woman walking around COP28 in a fiery robe with a five-metre long train?

That's Carmen Capriles, a climate activist and member of Artivist Network (a collective of activists who use arts to call for climate justice), who is from Bolivia and is wearing the outfit that depicts a forest in flames.

Carpiles said the objective is to capture the attention of delegates, observers and negotiators attending the ongoing UN Climate Summit to act decisively and urgently in protecting the environment.

Khaleej Times caught up with her and her organisation on Friday going around the UN-controlled COP28’s Blue Zone. No chants were made and there were no banners nor placards but onlookers did not miss the message.

Call for climate justice

Artivist Network said they have been organising creative actions during the UN Conference of the Parties (COP) for 10 years. “We focus specifically on climate justice organising for its potential to provoke deep, structural, and intersectional change,” the group noted.

“We put pressure on delegates to take immediate action. Stop burning our future,” they added.

Artivist Network is one of the several groups that are assembling peacefully at COP28 to make their voices heard not only on climate issues but also on human rights, food security, equitable distribution of climate fund, protection of Indigenous peoples ancestral lands, and other sectoral issue.

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