More than 100 ask for action on climate change

When Harneet Gill travelled to the Arctic to conduct research for her master's in environmental studies she saw first-hand the impact of climate change.

There was more shrubbery than at any other time in recent human history, creating conditions more conducive to forest fires.

The Arctic's permafrost, said Gill, has started to melt, releasing methane that will accelerate the warming of the climate.

“Climate change is the defining issue of our time because it affects everybody,” Gill said. “It's our responsibility to do everything we can to avoid that.”

On Sunday, more than 100 people with similar concerns about climate change joined Gill at the downtown Market to join an international day of action on climate change.

More than 2,500 communities around the world held climate change demonstrations ahead of United Nations Climate summit in New York City on Tuesday.

“I think the Earth and people have a lot of resilience,” said Gill.

Participants in the Sudbury demonstration wore green hearts with each person's reasons for participating in the event written in black marker.

Sudbury MP Glenn Thibeault participated in the demonstration.

“I think it's important to recognize that we need to do everything we can to protect the environment,” he said.

Thibeault said the Conservative government has failed to listen to Canadians on climate change.

He noted the NDP's Climate Accountability Act, first submitted by then party leader Jack Layton in October 2006, was defeated in the senate after receiving support from the other opposition parties.

The bill required that the federal government set regulations to attain a medium-term target to bring greenhouse gas emissions 25 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, and a long-term target to bring emissions 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050.

Thibeault also addressed his own recent push for lower gas prices, and how it could be see as encouraging heavier usage of fossil fuels.

“I get the question all the time, 'Why are you pushing for lower gas prices if you want to see change when it comes to fossil fuels?'” he said. “We've got to stop the gouging that the gas companies are doing right now so we can ensure that we can invest those dollars that were given to the gas companies in terms of subsidies into the green economy.”

Organizers handed out a number of petitions demanding government action on climate change, including one Thibeault said he will present to Parliament.