WARRNAMBOOL’S Lake Pertobe is a long way from the hustle and bustle of New York City, but on Sunday a local climate group gathered in solidarity with others across the globe.
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Wannon Climate Action Now stood with other groups around the world asking for governments to take effective action on climate change as the United Nations meets in New York for an emergency summit on the issue.
“World leaders like US President Barack Obama and UK Prime Minster David Cameron are going to the summit. Our Prime Minster won’t be there,” Wannon Climate Action Now’s Margaret Donoghue said.
“A few members of our group were planning on attending a rally in Melbourne, but we decided that we could do something down here in this electorate.”
Ms Donoghue said Sunday’s event was about sending a message to both federal and state governments that residents in the district wanted effective action on climate change.
“Our government isn’t taking part. It’s like they have exited stage right,” she said.
“The government have taken away any effective measures we had to deal with climate change in the carbon tax and they are now targeting the renewable energy target.
“You get the impression they don’t even know what their climate policy is. They have direct action, but they haven’t developed it.”
Sunday’s event featured music from local groups including Warrnambool Pipes and Drums and a soap box allowing those in attendance to voice their opinions.