Climate activists block traffic in U.S. capital, chain themselves to sailboat

Climate change activists block traffic at an intersection near the White House in Washington, U.S. September 23, 2019. REUTERS/Erin Scott

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Activists seeking to pressure U.S. politicians to tackle climate change blocked major traffic hubs in the U.S. capital on Monday, chaining themselves to a sailboat in the middle of a street, while police arrested 26 protesters.

The activists were drawing attention to a U.N. Climate Action Summit in New York where more than 60 world leaders were expected to appear, including ones from small island states most at risk from rising sea levels. Companies were expected to make fresh pledges to cut emissions of greenhouse gases at the summit.