'My six months with Extinction Rebellion' - BBC Three

"Criminal inaction."

That’s how Roger Hallam, the co-founder of the now-notorious Extinction Rebellion, described the British government’s stance on climate change. It was early 2019, and I was with Roger and other members of Extinction Rebellion as they planned the mass protests that would disrupt central London in April.

I was filming a documentary with the activists, having become intrigued by them when they stated their aims last October: to tell the truth about climate change, create a citizens’ assembly and go zero carbon by 2025. I’ve got to be honest – I didn’t think anyone would listen to them then. They weren’t the huge movement they are now; it was Roger, the archetypal climate warrior with his ponytail and enduring pessimism, and about 30 core members, trying to think of ways to expand. The first time I went to their office in December last year it was pretty crazy, they seemed really disorganised. I didn’t think they’d achieve much.

Maybe it was their absolute dedication to the cause that made me want to see how far they could go. So, despite my misgivings, we started filming in January this year, and I followed them as they orchestrated April’s protests.