Climate action call comes to Inverness streets
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CLIMATE change activists from the Black Isle and Inverness have shown their solidarity for school pupils across the world after the youngsters held a ‘strike’ to flag up ecological concerns.
New group Extinction Rebellion Highlands and Islands held a stall in Inverness High Street last Saturday, asking passers-by to sign a petition calling for urgent action by Highland Council to do its bit to tackle the threat, amid growing worries that the planet’s global warming is nearing an irreversible tipping point.
Organised by Black Isle activist Anne Thomas, who is also involved with Transition Black Isle, the stall attracted 38 signatures in the space of 90 minutes.
The youth strike, which included Highland participants, was sparked by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg who spoke at the last major UN Climate Change summit saying adults were not doing enough and time was running out.
“Lots of people had been impressed by the stand the kids had taken and were keen to show their support,” said Ms Thomas. “They agreed that government at all levels is not doing enough to stop dangerous levels of global warming and climate change.
“Scientists say we have less than 12 years to prevent warming going over 1.5 degrees, so we need to take drastic measures now. We could be on the brink of a mass extinction like the one which wiped out the dinosaurs.
“The petition asked that the Highland Council... reverse inconsistent policies and work alongside the media to communicate with residents.”
The petition also called on the local authority to pass a climate emergency motion to make the region carbon neutral by 2025.
Fiona Cormie who has just taken on the role of co-ordinator of the group, said they hoped to add “significantly” to its number of petition signatories in the coming weeks and present them to the council.
