Tasmanian Green Senator Christine Milne is calling on the Australian Government to recognise the damage climate change is doing to the local environment.

Senator Milne is in the Canadian city of Montreal for the UN climate change summit.

Senator Milne yesterday joined thousands of protesters calling for Australia and the US to ratify the 1997 Kyoto protocol.

She says Australia has a global responsibility to participate in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions here and overseas.

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Sunday, 4 December 2005

Senator Milne joins thousands in climate change rally in Montreal

Australian Greens climate change spokesperson Senator Christine Milne joined thousands of people in the climate change rally in Montreal, Canada earlier today, as part of the International day of Action on Climate Change.

Senator Milne, who has travelled to Montreal for the first conference of the parties to the Kyoto Protocol, said freezing conditions did not stop a huge crowd turning out for the rally to protest at inaction by world leaders on climate change.

“The march goes for at least a dozen city blocks, with two huge lines meeting in the middle,” Senator Milne said from Montreal.

“There is lots of colour, lots of placards, lots of excitement. People desperately want the US and Australia to do something.

“Meanwhile back at the convention centre, Australia is virtually out of the talks. They are very much sidelined in this event. They are keeping a watching brief as the rest of the members of the Kyoto Protocol are getting on with trying to negotiate an outcome.”

Senator Milne said the strong turnout at the rally demonstrated that people were way ahead of their governments.

“People are very angry about what’s happening,” she said.

In Canada, the evidence of climate change was already apparent with sea ice retreating.

“People want action on climate change and they want it now,” she said.

Senator Milne will be in Montreal this week for the duration of the talks.

Audio files will be available on Senator Milne’s web site from tomorrow(Mon) at www.christinemilne.org.au