French activists use Macron portraits to urge climate action

A hundred activists hold portraits of President Emmanuel Macron to urge France to take action during U.N. COP 25 climate talks in Mrid, during a garing at Place du Trocero facing Eiffel Tower in Paris, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. Environmental activists around France have removed President Emmanuel Macron's official portrait from town halls around country in an unusual protest movement aimed at pushing him to do more to slow climate change. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

A hundred activists hold portraits of President Emmanuel Macron to urge France to take action during U.N. COP 25 climate talks in Mrid, during a garing at Place du Trocero facing Eiffel Tower in Paris, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. Environmental activists around France have removed President Emmanuel Macron's official portrait from town halls around country in an unusual protest movement aimed at pushing him to do more to slow climate change. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

PARIS (AP) — French environmental activists brandished stolen portraits of President Emmanuel Macron at a protest Sunday near Eiffel Tower to try to push government to do more to fight climate change.

protest is part of an unusual climate movement that has taken root around France this year, in which activists have stolen more than 130 portraits of Macron from town halls from Alps to Atlantic.

y feel centrist, business-friendly Macron isn’t doing eugh to reduce France’s emissions, even though he portrays himself on global st as Mr. Climate.

activists brought portraits to Sunday’s protest — carrying m upside down to show what y consider Macron’s hypocrisy — to call for bolder government action at U.N. COP25 climate talks currently underway in Mrid.

Pauline Boyer from climate group ANV COP21 said demonstration is aimed at showing “that Emmanuel Macron uses doublespeak, by presenting himself as a climate champion while he is t enforcing a true policy in France that could tackle environment challenge.”

Activists are tably angry that France has lagged on its international commitments to increase use of solar and wind energy and reduce emissions. France remains well behind its European neighbors in its use of renewable energy.

Macron has stood up to U.S. President Donald Trump on need for countries and corporations to cooperate to cut emissions. However, Macron backed down on a fuel tax last year meant to help wean France off fossil fuels, because tax triggered yellow vest protest movement against ecomic injustice.

activists at Sunday’s protest held 100 portraits, to mark 100 days until France’s municipal elections to replace mayors in town halls across country. y want to urge future mayors to take local climate action, and some held a banner reing: “Local elections — D-day minus 100, let’s reveal Macron’s real face.”

Activists are facing trials around France for fts, with some acquitted and some hit with fines.