BERLIN: German activists chopped off the top of a Christmas tree next to the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on Wednesday, their latest protest pushing for greater action to combat the climate crisis, reports AFP.

Two women from campaign group Last Generation used a mechanical platform to ascend to the top of the 15-metre (49-foot) tree and sawed off a two-metre section.

Brandishing the sawn-off section, activist Lilli Gomez said In Germany, we are so far only seeing the tip of the underlying disaster.

While all of Germany is spending the week getting the best presents from the biggest shops, others are wondering where they will get water to drink, after droughts and floods destroyed their crops.

She called on the government to do more to avert a looming climate collapse.

Climate campaigners in Germany have been stepping up protests in recent weeks, blockading motorways, major city roads and airports, and gluing themselves to famous paintings in museums.

Last week, investigators raided the homes of several activists belonging to Last Generation, accusing them of backing a criminal association.