Thousands gather for People’s Climate March

While Sarah Thomson, a law student at Waikato University, wants urgent and meaningful action on climate change.

“The people are more vulnerable to hazards because of poverty, landlessness, joblessness, and government corruption”, said Tapang, adding that climate change responses must benefit the poor foremost – not only large businesses or politicians.

At the same time that Prime Minister John Key and Trade Minister Tim Groser get set to present New Zealand’s targets at the climate change negotiations in Paris, the global People’s Climate Movement will be staging 2000 events around the world to give everyday people a chance to voice their climate concerns.

“The majority of Australians want action on climate change”, said Geoff Cousins, who represents the Australian Conservation Foundation, to ABC.

In Wellington around 7000 people made their way to parliament.

The New Zealand government was going to Paris with woefully inadequate targets, he said. “Protect our usual home”, & “climate justice”, have been written on the placards held aloft by the surging crowd.

THE People’s Climate March – a worldwide event – took place on Saturday, with organisers claiming thousands took part in 35 New Zealand centres – the smallest being on Raoul Island, where the island’s entire population of seven turned out. The country was not prepared for the onslaught of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.

The Philippines has committed to a 70 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, on condition of receiving technological and financial assistance from developed countries for adaptation to climate change and mitigation of its impact. “The government should listen to the thousands of New Zealanders who took to the streets today and come up with a stronger, more ambitious plan for reducing climate pollution”, said co-leader James Shaw.