28 Nov 2015

NZ hosts day of climate protests

12:48 pm on 28 November 2015

Climate change protests will be held in 35 locations around the country this weekend, as part of global action to apply pressure on leaders taking part in the Paris Climate talks.

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Photo: 123RF

The protests are part of a global campaign, with 2000 events planned around the world this weekend.

New Zealand campaign convenor Kristin Gillies said the protests aimed to build pressure on the government and international leaders to create more ambitious targets to reduce climate change.

The New Zealand government was going to Paris with woefully inadequate targets, he said.

"They really are lagging behind the rest of the world, and in fact everyone in New Zealand. Individuals, organisations, businesses, they're taking action, but the government is dragging the chain."

Protesters were realistic and didn't think adequate targets would come out of the Paris talks, but believed it was important to build momentum and continue to apply pressure.

Mr Gillies expected thousands of people to turn out in Auckland, but said there were many other gatherings going ahead across the country.

The seven people living on Raoul Island would be holding a protest, and a group will be marching the almost forty kilometres from Greymouth to Hokitika.

Details about the various events in New Zealand can be found here

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