Lidia Kelly and James Redmayne

SYDNEY/MELBOURNE – More than 1000 people marched in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia’s largest cities to oppose the government’s policies on climate change and its strategies presented at a U.N. summit in Glasgow.

After a long COVID-19 lockdown, Sydney saw its first legal protest. Around 1,000 demonstrators marched in support for global action day for justice and climate justice. This was a world-wide movement that was mobilised at the COP26.

Georgia said that one protester was saying, “We are all here to demonstrate our desire for more from the government.”

Signs reading “We need human climate change and not climate change,” were carried by marchers in photos shared on media.

After a week of speeches from the governments and commitments made at the Glasgow two-week meeting, promises were made to reduce deforestation and greenhouse gases methane emissions.

Australia has, however, rejected the global methane promise and campaigners, and pressure groups, have not been impressed with the world leaders’ commitments.

Georgia, a Sydney protester who only gave one name, said that the COP 26 agreements had been made and were not working out for Australia right now.

Melbourne protest was less large than Sydney’s. There were only a few hundred who attended the rally which included a huge koala-bear emitting smoke plumes and other protesters on bicycles dressed up as skeletons.

Many smaller events were hosted elsewhere in Australia.

Greta Thunberg, a Swedish teenager activist was one of thousands who marched to Glasgow Friday demanding immediate action.