As Denmark moves rapidly towards winter, thousands of climate activists from around the world risk having to sleep in the open or becoming squatters when they arrive in the Danish capital for the United Nations Climate Summit in a month’s time.

Climate Justice Action, which is an international activist network for individuals and organisations, expects a total of 15,000 activists to arrive in Copenhagen for the summit. A month before they arrive, however, the group says it still needs to find shelter for 10,000 people.

“We will not urge people to squat – but that is what may happen if we cannot provide visiting guests a place to sleep,” says Climate Justice Action Logistics Spokeswoman Anna Kollerup Nytrup.

“That will be unfortunate as we would rather discuss climate policy than squatting,” she adds.

The Logistics Group has been negotiating with Copenhagen Council for months to have larger premises or halls put at their disposal, but so far no agreement has been reached. One of the major obstacles is approval from the fire authorities.

“It can be no surprise that a lot of people will be coming to town. An alternative climate summit has also been arranged at DGI – but where do they imagine that people are going to live. You can’t ask poor people from the south to put up a tent in the Fælledparken park in minus five degrees,” Nytrup says.

Any vacant halls?
The group is looking for large, heated premises with access to sanitary facilities in either Copenhagen or its suburbs.

Apart from negotiating with Copenhagen Council, the group has also been discussing the issue with culture centres, unions, private networks and has a cooperation with New Life Copenhagen, which was set up by Copenhagen Council to arrange private billets during the summit.

“New Life Copenhagen’s deadline expires on November 8 – and they are nowhere close to getting the 5,000 beds they had as their target,” says Nytrup.

“We have some logistical problems that must be solved – one way or another,” she concludes.