Can Extinction Rebellion protesters call themselves green if they own 10 pairs of trainers?

They’re young and motivated, but do they practice what they preach?

Extinction Rebellion protesters stage a ‘die-in’ in Australia (Getty)

London faces massive disruption next week as more than 20,000 environmental campaigners plan to block bridges, blockade Smithfield meat market and surround City airport as part of their “October Rebellion”.

Many Extinction Rebellion supporters are young, fired up by what they see as irreversible damage being inflicted on the planet by their elders. But do these youthful activists practice what they preach?

They’re more likely to shun meat and adopt a vegan diet than my generation, but what about their shopping habits?

The charity Global Action Plan claims that many teenagers generate a damaging carbon footprint by buying far more pairs of trainers than they actually use, with 30 per cent not being worn in the past three months.

On average, British teenagers own six pairs of trainers each and one in 10 has more than 10. GAP says if teenagers bought half as many trainers, the amount of carbon dioxide saved would be the equivalent of taking 73,000 cars off the road each year.

Perhaps they could bring all the unwanted trainers along to the demonstrations next week and organise a swap.