‘It’s going to cause a lot of damage’: C.O. climate activists protest amid global strike, call for ‘climate crisis’ declaration

(Update: Adding video, protester comments)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- Youth activists in Bend staged a climate protest in front of City Hall Friday evening as part of a global strike to fight against fossil fuels and environmental instability amid a "climate crisis."

Protests have been underway around the nation over the past two days to demand President Biden acknowledge the climate emergency.

"Youth climate activists in Bend are organizing a peaceful, non-violent climate strike to demand action on the climate crisis and end the era of fossil fuels." the organizers shared in a news release.

Locally, they are demanding that Bend city officials implement a more electrified city and for Governor Kotek to declare a climate emergency in the state.

The City of Bend promised to reduce emissions to 40% by 2030, but protesters say the city is not acting quickly enough.

Amelia DuBose is part of the group Fridays For Future Bend and led the crowd of protesters Friday evening.

She said, "52% of our emissions in Bend come from buildings, and if the city wants to meet their goal of reducing our emissions by 40% by 2030, I think buildings would be a really great place to start."

They were also protesting the planned expansion of the GTN Xpress Pipeline. According to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the 1,400-mile-long natural gas pipeline sends more than 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas each day. If approved, the expanded pipeline would run through Bend. Critics say it would increase greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon by 7.7%.

"It's going to do the most damage to the communities who are less fortunate and have less resources, so the Native American reservations," DuBose said. "It's going to emit around 3 million metric tons of natural gas -- that's not specifically in Oregon, but that is throughout Oregon, Washington, and parts of Idaho."

Here's more of the details, in their news release:

Youth climate activists in Bend are organizing a peaceful, non-violent climate strike to demand action on the climate crisis and end the era of fossil fuels. The Global Climate Strike in Bend is organized in close cooperation with over thirty climate action groups across Oregon and climate strikes in Portland, Eugene, and Salem. The protests are part of the Global Climate Strike–an international day of action on September 15th, organized by Fridays For Future (started by Greta Thunberg in 2018). The Global Climate Strike in Bend will:

• Call on Bend City Council to make and implement a plan to electrify the city
• Call on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to deny the GTN XPress pipeline expansion project
• Together with climate strikes across the state, call on Governor Kotek to declare a climate emergency
• Together with climate strikes across the country, call on President Biden to declare a climate emergency

The Global Climate Strike in Bend is organized by Deschutes Youth Climate Coalition and Fridays for Future Bend. It is cohosted by 350 Deschutes, Vocal Seniority, Indivisible Sisters, and Energize Bend. The strike is part of a number of statewide actions, organized by a coalition of over thirty climate action groups across the state.