Around 200 demonstrators participated in a sit-in protest at Australia's Parliament House Wednesday, urging the Turnbull government to take increased action against climate change.
The activists were dragged from the marble foyer by police after refusing to leave when asked. They held banners saying “Put people ahead of polluters” and chanted, "The whole world is watching."
150 climate change protesters demanding climate change action Parliament House Canberra #auspol #peoplespaliament pic.twitter.com/KCrkqqe3Pb
— Colin James Bettles (@ColinJBettles)
December 2, 2015
The crowd included numerous Australian Greens members, such as party leader Richard Di Natale, and parliamentarians Adam Bandt, Scott Ludlam, Lee Rhiannon and Janet Rice.
Di Natale described the event as “democracy in action” and said that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was not acting on “catastrophic global warming.”
Bandt said the protest was a reflection of a national mood for change on climate change action.
“People here in parliament today have said we're running out of time,” he told AAP, adding, “People in Australia feel so strongly about this and want the parliament to take the kind of action on climate change that science demands.”
As the climate talks in Paris continue so does the protesting back in Australia. This in Parliament House #auspol pic.twitter.com/QCEPn4wWT9
— David Sharaz (@DavidSharaz)
December 2, 2015
Turnball angered many when he turned down a fossil fuel subsidy pledge in late November, despite dozens of other developed nations signing on. Around 40 countries including the United States and United Kingdom are set to sign the statement during the COP21 climate talks in Paris, France.
However when addressing delegates of the COP21 Monday, Turnbull said Australia would pledge US$1 billion over the next five years for the Green Climate Fund, including an initial US$200 million promised earlier this year.
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The money will be used to help Pacific Island nations deal with the threat of rising sea levels, although the money will be funded out of the existing foreign aid budget.
Tanya Plibersek, deputy leader of the Labor Party, described Turnbull’s pledges as “pretty rich.”
“Considering we have actually cut funding to countries like Kiribati that are currently struggling with climate change adaptation and mitigation, in fact we cut AU$2.5 million (US$1.8 million) from Kiribati."
During his speech Turnball also said Australia would cut its carbon emissions by 26 to 28 percent by 2030.