More than 60 Bunbury residents turned out in stormy conditions Sunday to demand action on climate change on the eve of a Climate Summit at the United Nations.
The gathering at the Koombana North Foreshore was one of 2646 events held in 156 countries around the world known as the People’s Climate March.
The largest gathering was in New York City, where 400,000 people marched.
The Bunbury event was one of many held around Australia, with 30,000 people gathering in Melbourne.
At rallies large and small, people from all walks of life were united in their demand for world leaders to make ambitious commitments to tackle the climate crisis.
At last count, 2,097,372 people around the world signed onto a petition calling for bold action at the UN Climate Summit this week.
At Bunbury, organiser Arnold Geerlings addressed the crowd about how we all individually must take responsibility for reducing our own carbon footprints.
Deputy Mayor Brendan Kelly said the Federal government must take stronger action and urged people to continue their efforts to affect change.
“We are all bitterly disappointed at the useless face the current Federal government has shown to the issue of climate change”, Mr Kelly said.
Glen Holland, from local renewable energy company Sunwise Energy, said that weakening or abolishing the Renewable Energy Target (RET) would benefit owners of polluting coal plants at the expense of households and small business.
Bunbury Against Coal Exports spokesperson Laurie Capill said while West Australians were doing their part to reduce emissions by installing solar hot water and power systems, this effort would be totally negated if the Griffin coal-export project went ahead.
"Griffin–Lanco is planning to quadruple its present Collie coal production," Mr Capill said.
“This will add 42 million tonnes more emissions into the atmosphere every year – about the same amount that is generated by everyone in WA altogether.
“It’s very clear that West Australians want our Governments to help protect the climate by supporting renewable energy, rather than allowing more dangerous, polluting coal to be mined and burned."
