ARMIDALE residents have the opportunity to join hundreds of communities in cities and towns around Australia and show their concern about climate issues by participating in a family fun day in Central Park on Sunday.
Initiated by the independent advocacy organisation GetUp, the National Day of Climate Action has been organised locally by Armidale people to draw attention to the climate future their children and grandchildren may be facing.
Organiser Colin Hargreaves said the series of records that underlined the need for action included last month, which was the hottest October on record and the last 12 months, which were also the hottest on record.
“We cannot afford to go backwards with action on climate,” Mr Hargreaves said.
“This is not a matter of politics, it is about showing government, business and the media that community members support action to reduce the risks that the vast majority of scientists are warning us about.
“The day will therefore be focused on the community – we are aiming for a fun day but with an underlying message of concern that lack of action will result in the need for more emergency services to cover bushfires and floods plus additional health care in the future.”
The fun day will start at 1pm and familes are welcome to bring picnics.
Face paint, fun hats, competitions and children’s activities, plus entertainment have been organised.
In between, there will also be short speeches, ranging from eminent climate scientists such as UNE’s Professor Patrick Nunn (an author of one section of the latest IPCC Report) and Professor Annette Cowie of Rural Climate Solutions, to local school students.
