Organizers say over 25000 at Ottawa rally for climate change

Over 2,000 marches are planned for the weekend of November 28 and 29 all around the world, beginning in Melbourne, Australia where organizers say 60,000 people attended.

“This march today is a testament to the power of ordinary people showing up to do extraordinary things – the one thing we really need to tackle the climate crisis”, Ruth Walmsley, a march organizer and member of Burnaby Residents Opposing Kinder Morgan Expansion, explained.

“We’re out in the masses all over the world, marching for climate justice and action on climate change.”

“What’s going to change things is people getting out here in the streets more often”.

The event was organized by local environmental advocacy group Ecology Ottawa.

Squamish First Nation Chief Ian Campbell stressed the need to work together in the battle against climate change.

Speaking from Paris, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson echoed the importance of citizen engagement in a message to the crowds assembled in his city and across the country.

Climate-change activists held protests in many cities.

“We’re seeing real leadership at a grassroots level and a business level that needs to be enabled by government”.

It comes ahead of climate change discussions in Paris, which begin tonight Australian time. “We want targets set for emissions, we want renewable energy now, we want to put an end to the fossil fuel empire and we want to move forward to a sustainable future”.

With a new federal government, many at the march said there was renewed hope for Canada to make meaningful changes.