German climate activists stood on blocks of ice with ropes loosely around their necks, waiting for the ice to melt beneath their feet.

Anne Sikora and Sophia Regner from Ecosign-Academy conducted their performance outside Cologne's busiest Apple Store as thousands of shoppers walked past.

The Performance That Stopped Traffic

The students called their art performance "Ice on the Rope" and stood in the center of Cologne on July 6.

As the ice slowly melted, their feet lifted off the ground, leaving them hanging from makeshift gallows.

They chose the Apple Store at Brunnen specifically because "the backdrop of consumption supported our concerns".

A Message About Time Running Out

Anne and Sophia wanted to highlight what they called the "deadly consequences of climate change."

They stressed that the world faces an "inevitable situation" that can only be stabilized through global cooperation.

Their performance was part of a week-long protest pushing Cologne's parliament to declare a climate emergency.

Part of a Larger Movement

The "Ice on the Rope" protests spread throughout Germany during September 2019 climate demonstrations.

Young activists camped day and night in front of Cologne's main station and town hall.

The September 2019 climate strikes drew 4 million protesters globally, including 1.4 million in Germany alone.

The Weight of Their Message

Several thousand people stopped to watch the performance, many appearing shocked and confused.

The parliament declared a climate emergency the day after the protests began.

The students risked their safety to demonstrate what they believed was happening to their generation's future.