VOA
09 Sep 2018, 17:35 GMT+10
SYDNEY - Tall ships carrying climate change banners have sailed into Sydney Harbor in Australia, launching a wave of protests across 95 countries. The protests have been organized by the New York-based lobby group 350.org.
The message from conservationists on Sydney Harbor has echoed in towns and cities around the world, as campaigners call for an end to the use of fossil fuels. Australia remains heavily reliant on coal to generate its electricity, but activists say it must join a concerted international push toward renewable energy. The government in Canberra, however, has scrapped a national power plan that would have reduced emissions and boosted the clean energy sector, and some lawmakers want Australia to abandon the Paris climate accord because of its impact on the fossil fuel industry.
This week Australia and New Zealand joined Pacific nations to declare that climate change was the 'single greatest threat' to island states in the region.
"The Pacific countries are very committed to the Paris Agreement, because it is paramount for the survival of the Pacific," said Dame Meg Taylor, secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum.
Regional leaders say that climate change is already affecting the region through rising sea levels and storm surges.
Former Kiribati President Anote Tong says the impoverished archipelago is under pressure.
"In the south, we are getting some very severe droughts [that] are beginning to impact some of the islands, and so all of this is happening. The erosion and the need to continue to protect the coastline will continue to be a threat to our people," he said.
Australia is being urged by its Pacific neighbors to do more to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, which are some of the highest per capita in the world.
But Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne says Canberra is committed to helping the region adapt to the effects of warmer temperatures.
"In the last couple of years, we have committed over AUD$300m ($213 million ), AUD$200m ($142 million) of which has already been expended on work focused on adaptation and on resilience, and certainly that was a significant part of the discussion this week," she said.
Environmental rallies held in almost 100 countries have come as the U.S. state of California prepares to host the Global Climate Action Summit next week. The summit will bring together political and business leaders, as well as celebrities to urge governments to do much more to tackle climate change.
Get a daily dose of India Gazette news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to India Gazette.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: Retail sales dropped sharply in May as consumer spending slowed after a strong start to the year, primarily due to...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Mitsubishi Motors is the latest automaker to raise prices in the United States, joining a growing list of car companies...
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: Eli Lilly is making a bold play in cardiovascular gene therapy, announcing plans to acquire its partner Verve...
BEIJING/WELLINGTON: New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon commenced his visit to China on June 17, seeking to strengthen trade...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks made only minor moves in both directions,Thursday, as investors fretted about the Israel-Iran conflict...
PARIS, France: Luxury group Kering's decision to tap Luca de Meo as its next chief is being seen as a daring but necessary attempt...
NEW DELHI, India: Indian investigators are examining the black boxes from a Boeing 787 Dreamliner to determine the cause of a catastrophic...
NEW DELHI, India: The flight data recorder from the crashed Air India plane was found on June 13. This vital discovery may help investigators...
NEW DELHI, India: Amid mounting U.S.-China trade tensions, Apple has sharply increased iPhone shipments from India to the United States,...
Patna (Bihar) [India], June 20 (ANI): Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Friday slammed RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and dismissed his claims...
New Delhi [India] June 20 (ANI): The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) has announced Kangana Ranaut, MP, who is an actor-turned-politician,...
New Delhi [India], June 20 (ANI): The logo and mascot for the New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships was launched here on...