Climate change is presented as a looming threat to the planet, and a coalition of Spanish researchers has decided to act. Frustrated by political inertia, they have launched a worldwide nonviolent campaign of civil disobedience. The group styles itself as the Scientific Rebellion, insisting that governments must confront the climate, energy, and biodiversity crisis with urgent measures and substantial ambition. They argue that scientific warnings have long been ignored and call on society to Move On with action rooted in evidence and responsibility.
Signatories include several renowned Spanish scientists across disciplines, such as the biologist Fernando Valladares, the IPCC co-author Marta Rivera, the physicist Antonio Turiel, the genetics physician José Esquinas, and the ecologist Fernando Prieto. Their affiliation is personal rather than institutional, highlighting a shared concern that governments have failed to implement policies commensurate with the scale and urgency of the crisis.
The collective notes that threats to civilization and life on Earth are intensifying daily. In their view, inaction cannot be tolerated any longer; the situation demands mobilization of the scientific community to push for rapid, coordinated action. They warn that disasters are unfolding on a large scale and emphasize that the COVID-19 pandemic has links to climate change, tracing this to deforestation and related zoonoses.
Extreme weather events—cold snaps, snowfalls, heavy rains, droughts, heat waves, and megafires—are increasing in frequency and magnitude. They point out that about three quarters of Spanish territory is already at high risk of desertification and argue that humanity is already living within a destabilizing global trajectory. Dozens of species are being lost daily as part of what some describe as a sixth mass extinction.
threat of global collapse
Pollution from plastics, pesticides, nitrates, heavy metals, and other contaminants is rising, and the group notes that tipping points in the climate system have already been triggered. The warning is clear: without bold action, the pace of degradation will accelerate further.
The Scientific Rebellion hosts a wide array of scientists who assert that the evidence of a looming threat to humanity requires a public, global response. In 2019 they estimated that thousands of scientists had already issued warnings about a climate emergency that needed to be heard by governments worldwide. They contend that this crisis remains largely unaddressed.
To limit warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and ideally stay near 1.5 degrees, substantial reductions in emissions across sectors are essential. Paleoclimatologist Valérie Masson-Delmotte, a co-chair of the IPCC, stresses the need for rapid transitions in energy, land use, urban planning, transportation, buildings, and industry. She underscores that the required shifts depend on deeper emissions cuts, broader mitigation options, and far greater investments, and she critiques the lack of timely implementation of these measures.
Despite these calls, emissions continue to rise, resources dwindle, and public funds continue to support fossil fuels and other activities that harm both the environment and human health. The rebellion describes this as a dangerous misallocation of resources and a barrier to a sustainable future.
alarming situation
The group connects the climate and resource crisis to conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, arguing that continued fossil fuel dependence directly threatens the future of humanity. They stress that governments have shown limited impact from their directives and call on the scientific community to press for urgent, coordinated action at every level.
The Scientific Rebellion accuses governments and business lobbies of thwarting rapid environmental action by dismissing the precautionary principle and pursuing endless growth on a planet with finite resources. UN leaders have warned about this paradox, emphasizing the need to move away from unsustainable trajectories.
Analysts in climate science point out that economics, politics, and power shape policy choices. Countries with higher per capita emissions often have more means to act but frequently choose slower reforms in practice. The IPCC notes that current growth paths clash with the objective of reducing environmental impacts below planetary thresholds.
Changing the productive model
The scientists advocate a fundamental shift in the production model to limit temperature rise to 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The latest IPCC report calls for a deep, rapid transformation of the entire production system and a just transition for the most vulnerable groups. They highlight the need for social innovation, new institutions, and genuine citizen participation to ensure effective climate action and broaden rights and economic structures.
The manifesto invites the broader scientific community, all groups and citizens to sign and join a Move On campaign that seeks meaningful changes despite potential discomfort. It argues that acknowledging planetary limits is essential and that adaptation is a collective responsibility. The movement frames action as a democratic, inclusive process that can withstand political and corporate resistance.
In times of resource scarcity and global vulnerability, the group calls for collective intelligence and courage to act. The manifesto emphasizes that every sector and individual has a role in moving toward a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable future. The manifest can be signed through the organization’s platform, with the Scientific Rebellion maintaining a public presence to advocate for urgent, coordinated measures across levels of governance.
Source for the movement and its framing is attributed to the coordinated efforts of researchers and institutions associated with the Scientific Rebellion. Attribution: Rebelion Cientifica attribution by participating scientists. This document reflects the collective viewpoint of its signatories and supporters who urge swift, science-based action from governments worldwide.