Climate Activists Pull Fire Alarm During World Health Summit in Berlin

Climate activists protested by gluing themselves to entranceways and sounding fire alarms during the opening ceremonies of World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany on Sunday, October 16.

Scientist Rebellion, a climate emergency activist organization comprised of scientists and academics, claimed responsibility for the protest.

Video filmed by summit attendee Dr Rachel Lippert shows the main stage on Sunday as a fire alarm went off.

Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany, addressed the audience as the alarm sounded:

“So, we are discussing pressing issues — someone pressed the fire alarm. It’s not really supporting our debates, over here they are doing some protests about climate and things like that and think this will reprove our discussions. I think the best way to improve our discussions is just continuing with [unintelligible],” Scholz said. Credit: @RachelLippert via Storyful

Video transcript

[ALARM WAILING]

- Take even.

- I don't know, Jesus.

[CLAPPING]

OLAF SCHOLZ: So we were discussing pressing issues, someone pressed the fire alarm. I would have a place for freely supporting our debates. Over here, they are doing some protests about climate and things like that and think this will improve our discussions. I think the best way to improve the discussions is just continuing what we are doing here.

[APPLAUSE]

[SIREN WAILING]

- Take even.

- I don't know, Jesus.

[CLAPPING]

OLAF SCHOLZ: So we were discussing pressing issues. Someone pressed the fire alarm.

[LAUGHTER]

I would have a place for freely supporting our debates. Over here they are doing some protests about climate and things like that, and think this will improve our discussions. I think the best way to improve the discussions is just continuing what we are doing here.

[APPLAUSE]