Mid-Western Region residents concerned about climate change have called on Australians at every level - from governments and corporations to individuals - to take steps to reduce carbon emissions.
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As thousands gathered at People’s Climate Marches in Australian cities in the lead up to the Paris climate change conference, a smaller but no less passionate group met at St John’s Anglican Church yesterday to voice their concerns.
Members of Landcare, Amnesty International, the Mudgee District Environment Group, Greenpeace and concerned individuals were among those taking part in the rally.
"I hope that this is the beginning of a beautiful movement here in Mudgee,” organiser Sally Novak told the crowd. Ms Novak said without urgent action to curb climate change, Australia’s future would include worsening heatwaves and bushfires, rising sea levels forcing people to move away from the coast, and drier and hotter seasons.
"We need to take responsibility for our actions and accept that we are the reason the planet is warming,” she said. Ms Novak said changes such as greater use of solar power were already helping to reduce Australia’s carbon emissions. But to prevent a further rise in global temperatures, a worldwide change from fossil fuels to renewable energy was needed, she said.
“We have to demand our schools educate our children and prepare them for the future,” she said.
“Our government must take the initiative to help miners to transition into new industries.
“We must demand solar power on schools and public buildings, which will create jobs and save money in future.”
Other speakers included author and teacher Nora Jones and Nicky and Dave Power, who have adopted sustainable living practices at their Totnes Valley farm.
“Every global action starts with local steps,” Mrs Power told the crowd.
Ms Novak said while organising the rally she was disheartened by the high number of people in the district who did not accept that climate change was a problem.
“99.9 per cent of scientists agree that climate change is real and happening and the cause is us,” she said. Ms Novak was particularly disappointed that some schools refused to support poster and essay competitions organised in conjunction with the rally.
“I find this disappointing because it’s our children’s future at stake,” she said. “We should expand their knowledge so they can build a bright future for themselves.”
Rally participants were invited to write a personal pledge for change to be placed in a time capsule to be opened in 2030.