A youth-led international group called Friday for Futures, started by climate activist Greta-Thunberg, held what they call a climate strike across Canada and around the globe on September 15, 2023.
Thousands gathered in cities in Europe, Canada and the United States, calling on leaders to end the use of fossil fuels that are believed to be accelerating climate change.
“Several groups working together on climate issues gathered at Powell River City Hall, including qathet Climate Alliance and Brooks Secondary School environmental club,” said qathet Climate Alliance board member Jan Slakov. “We walked to the clock [on the corner of Alberni and Marine Avenue], as a symbol of ‘time is running out.’”
According to scientists said climate activists, including qathet Climate Alliance, “the world needs to cut fossil fuel use by 50 per cent by 2030,” in order to prevent further economical and environmental damage to the environment.
The UN climate assessment states that: “The world needs immediate and deep reductions in emissions now, and over the course of the next three decades, to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, above pre-industrial levels and prevent the worst impacts.”
The global climate rallies are a leadup to the United Nations (UN) Climate Ambition Summit, in New York on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. UN Secretary-General António Guterress has called for the summit, as it, “represents a critical political milestone for demonstrating that there is collective global will to accelerate the pace and scale of a just transition to a more equitable renewable-energy based, climate-resilient global economy,” according to the UN Climate Action website.
Slakov said she has been concerned about environmental issues since she was in elementary school.
“A lot could be done if we set our minds to it, but clearly our governments aren't acting at the level of the severity of the crisis,” added Slakov. “The call was for people and governments to treat this like the kind of emergency it is.”
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