Aussie Parents Innovate for School Strikes 4 Climate

After months of lockdown, parents are rising to the challenge to express their hopes for a climate-safe future in innovative ways, to support the School Strikes for Climate on Friday October 15.

“From gathering for storytime with their children outside Barnaby Joyce’s office in Tamworth; creating “rock art” activism at Parliament House in Canberra, upcycling climate t-shirts in Pakenham, to hosting a mini eco-festival on the Sunshine with electric vehicles and live music, I am inspired by the growing momentum of parents who are concerned about climate change and now they are calling our politicians to act”, said Australian Parent for Climate Actions National Community Organiser Laura Grufus, who herself is creating a School Strike 4 Climate themed Spoonville in her local park in Geelong.

Community members from Tamworth Parents and Friends for Climate Action will host ‘Storytime for the Planet’ outside the office of the Hon Barnaby Joyce MP to coincide with the School Strike 4 Climate. The group will read children’s stories about saving the planet, sing songs and deliver letters to Mr. Joyce. 

‘Our region is ideally placed to reap huge benefits in a renewable economy. Our solar and wind resources are amongst the best in the country, as has been demonstrated by the recent scramble by tenderers to secure project opportunities in the New England Renewable Energy Zone,’ parent Tessa Rainbird said. 

‘Yet Barnaby Joyce often paints a picture that regional communities aren’t concerned about climate change, or are reluctant to transition away from a fossil fuel economy. We are here to tell him that is simply not the case. We understand the science, we are very worried, and we want to move with the rest of the world on this issue. ‘We don’t want our region, or our country, to be held back by Mr. Joyce.’

Members of the new North Tasmania Australian Parents for Climate Action group will be joining students and other concerned residents of north-west Tasmania to participate in the School Strike for Climate Action at the Burnie Foreshore.

Hannah is a mum of two young children from Wynyard. "I am sick of the Federal Government playing politics with my children's future. In the lead up to COP26, how can they say they take climate change seriously while at the same time approving 3 new coal mines in the last month?"

“In stark contrast to Australia's G20 companions, the Australian government currently has no policy to get to net-zero emissions and, in the last 5 years, has actually increased subsidies for fossil fuels by 48%. Australia is fast becoming an international pariah and an embarrassment on the global stage, and our kids are missing out on the jobs of the future,” said Hannah.

The Climate Strike event is being held two weeks before the crucial COP 26 global climate summit. Australian Parents for Climate Action is calling for a net-zero by 2050 target and strong ambition on a mid-term target with 75% reduction in emissions by 2030.

 

For further information contact:

Communications and Campaign Director Heidi Lee Douglas, Australian Parents for Climate Action

0401 092 570 [email protected] 

 

Footage and photos of events will be available here:

OCT 2021

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