Exclusive In Photos: Rallies without marchers in Paris ahead of climate summit

pairs

A woman holds a banner as hundreds of pairs of shoes are displayed at the place de la Republique, in Paris, as part of a symbolic and peaceful rally called by the NGO Avaaz "Paris sets off for climate", Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015

Tens of thousands of people joined one of the biggest global days of climate change activism on Sunday, from Sydney to Berlin, to put pressure on world leaders to unite in fighting global warming at a summit in Paris.

About 20,000 pairs of shoes were laid out in the Place de la Republique in the French capital, from high-heels to boots, to symbolize absent marchers after attacks by Islamic State militants killed 130 people on Nov. 13 and led France to ban a protest that was meant to be at the heart of the global action.

Organizers said the Vatican sent a pair of shoes on behalf of Pope Francis. One activist, dressed in white as an angel with large wings, held a sign saying "coal kills".

A message saying 'Walk for the earth' is seen on a pair of shoes, as hundreds of pairs of shoes are displayed at the place de la Republique, in Paris, as part of a symbolic and peaceful rally called by the NGO Avaaz "Paris sets off for climate"

A pair of shoes, displaying the colors of the French flag, are symbolically placed on the Place de la Republique, after the cancellation of a planned climate march following shootings in the French capital, ahead of the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21), in Paris, France

A woman holds a banner as hundreds of pairs of shoes are displayed at the place de la Republique, in Paris, as part of a symbolic and peaceful rally called by the NGO Avaaz "Paris sets off for climate"

A banner which reads "Global Climate March" is displayed in front of pairs of shoes symbolically placed on the Place de la Republique, after the cancellation of a planned climate march following shootings in the French capital, ahead of the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21), in Paris, France

Pope Francis' shoes are seen in the middle of hundreds of pairs of shoes displayed at the place de la Republique, in Paris, as part of a symbolic and peaceful rally called by the NGO Avaaz "Paris sets off for climate"

Women dressed as angels holds signs at the Place de la Repubique where hundreds of pairs of shoes were places earlier, on November 19, 2015 

Women dressed as angels holds signs at the Place de la Repubique where hundreds of pairs of shoes were places earlier, on November 19, 2015 

A man walks between shoes as hundreds of pairs of shoes are displayed at the place de la Republique, in Paris, as part of a symbolic and peaceful rally called by the NGO Avaaz "Paris sets off for climate"