JESSE NEILL

REPRESENTATIVES from Gawler Council took action on climate change by participating in last week’s Global Strike for Climate.

Councillor Ian Tooley, along with members of the Gawler Youth Advisory Council and members of the council’s Climate Emergency Action Plan Working Group, joined the thousands of people who protested in Adelaide’s CBD on Friday.

Cr Tooley said a number of other councils spotted the Gawler Council placards and congratulated them on their bravery in tackling climate change.

“We were the only council overtly showing our credentials, but I think we can be proud of that,” he said.

“Back in January we were the first council in South Australia to declare a ‘Climate Emergency’.

“Since then, many other councils in SA have contacted me and asked to borrow the motion we put forward.

“So far, there’s been four other South Australian councils that have moved motions successfully and joined the global network made up of thousands of councils moving forward on a Climate  Emergency Action Plan.”

The protests were part of a worldwide day of action led by Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg.

More than 150 countries took part in the strikes, with estimations suggesting millions joined the global movement.

Australia saw demonstrations take place in all eight capital cities and 104 other towns and regional centres.

Australian protesters called for the Federal Government to commit to 100 per cent renewable energy generation and exports by 2030, funding for a just transition and job creation for all fossil fuel industry workers and communities, and ceasing to pursue new coal, oil or gas projects.

Cr Tooley said this sort of public backing is necessary in order to make meaningful change.

“It’s important everybody takes action on this,” he said.

“You can’t just wait until someone else does it, you’ve got to take charge and be involved in the movement.

“It’s about growing pressure from the ground up, because big government hasn’t been listening and hasn’t been taking enough action.

“People are saying they’ve had enough, they’re taking to the streets and they’re demanding that our politicians listen.”