The People’s Climate March

pcm-march-logo-badgeThe discussion around Climate change is really starting to get somewhere, not only did 125 Heads of State meet in New York at the UN Climate Summit on Tuesday to talk about the issue, but also 400,000 people gathered n New York over the weekend to show support for a policy change. The People’s Climate March took place on Sunday the 21st of September to show world leaders how much we care about our planet and the need for change.

It wasn’t only in New York that people showed their support, around 40,000 protesters marched through London and over 2,700 events took place in more than 150 countries demanding governments to take action. Emma Thompson, Vivienne Westwood and Peter Gabriel are just three of the celebrities who joined the protesters in London, with many more marching in New York including Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo.

The people involved in the demonstrations around the world called for renewable energy so we can stop using harmful – and finite – fossil fuels, an end to fracking and clean water policies. It seems that many believe only financial incentives will encourage big businesses and industries to change and take better care of our planet, but the overall consensus is that Governments must do something to tackle global warming.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo at the Climate March in New York. (@leonardodicaprio)

Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo at the Climate March in New York. (@leonardodicaprio)

The UN summit was called by secretary general Ban Ki-mood who hopes to encourage action and drive momentum before the talks in Paris in 2015, hopefully there a new global climate treaty can be agreed. With such a massive and unified demonstration all around the world, hopefully politicians have listened to us and will commit to a new treaty next year so we can start to reverse the damage we have caused and create a healthier planet for our children.

You don’t have to actively protest to make a change though, you can do your bit simply by living a greener life and buying more eco-friendly products. When we buy ethical products from environmentally friendly companies, we create a demand for more ethically produced goods and that can force big businesses to take action and clean up their production processes. There are also changes you can make to daily life to reduce your own carbon footprint, from switching off the lights when you leave the room to changing to a meat free diet even for one day a week.

Were you involved in the People’s Climate March or did you see it? Do tell us your thoughts!

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