With only a week until Scott Morrison lands in Glasgow to attend the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference (October 31 – November 12), students across Australia are demanding that the federal government take a more "meaningful plan" to the summit.
After weeks of indecision as to whether or not he would attend the conference, Scott Morrison confirmed his attendance on October 15 after pressure from global leaders, including Prince Charles. But as it stands, the Nationals have only just signalled they're onboard with the federal governments plan to commit to a net zero emissions target by 2050.
In a two-hour long party room meeting on Sunday, Barnaby Joyce accepted the 2050 net zero target under the condition that cabinet sign off on a package that would protect the economy of regional communities. At this stage, the details of this agreement have yet to be disclosed. According to The Guardian, Nationals MP George Christensen wore a slogan t-shirt that read "support coal" to the meeting.
Many experts have said that the COP26 is the last opportunity for global leaders to take meaningful action when it comes to climate change; with Sir David King of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group ominously dubbing the summit a "last chance saloon". Meanwhile, university students from the Tomorrow Movement have criticised Scott Morrison's feeble 2050 target as "the bare minimum". As a result, they've organised a series of protests between October 25 – 27 across the east coast of Australia demanding action now.
“Delaying and kicking the can down the road is not good enough". We couldn't agree more. Find the protest details below.
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Before you head out to the rallies, remember to register your protest with your local MP or with Tomorrow Movement.
Monday, October 25
Sydney: Queen Victoria Building, a candle-lit vigil from 5pm
Melbourne: Parliament House, 9am – 8pm
Canberra: Haig Park, a candle-lit vigil from 5pm – 7pm
Tuesday, October 26
Sydney: Queen Victoria Building, 11.30am – 3.30pm
Melbourne: Parliament House, 9am – 8pm
Wollongong: Wollongong lighthouse, 2pm (24 hour protest)
Canberra: Haig Park, morning protest
Wednesday, October 27
Sydney: Queen Victoria Building, 11.30am – 3.30pm
Melbourne: Parliament House, 9am – 8pm
Wollongong: Wollongong lighthouse, protest until 12pm, followed by a rally, 12pm – 2pm.
Canberra: Haig Park, morning protest following by a march to Parliament House from 11am
Unable to protest? Here are some other powerful ways you can combat climate change.
