Climate for change

Sunday Star Times

6 December 2009

Thousands of people, eager to draw attention to climate change issues, gathered or marched in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch yesterday, calling for a good outcome from the United Nations conference in Copenhagen which starts tomorrow.

Organised as part of the Greenpeace ‘‘Sign On’’ campaign, which calls for a 40% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020, the march in Auckland was followed by a concert featuring Opshop and Don McGlashan.

Boosting the ranks in the City of Sails were Greenpeace celebrity climate ambassadors Lucy Lawless, Rhys Darby and Robyn Malcolm, who have all been vocal about the need for Prime Minister John Key to attend the United Nations climate change conference.

They were pleased that Key has done a U-turn, announcing last week that he will be joining the big-wigs of international politics in Copenhagen after months of saying he was not going to attend.

Darby, who hosted yesterday’s concert in Auckland, had previously held a sausage sizzle to help raise money to get Key a plane ticket to the conference.

He reckons Key felt the pressure of the whole country but that his skills behind the grill may have played a part.

‘‘The pinnacle would definitely have been my barbecue outside The Warehouse.

‘‘I think that was probably the straw that broke the camel’s back and it just made him feel guilty and now he’s gone ..’’

Then again, it could have also have been a chance to get some face-time with US President Barack Obama.

Lawless said it took a big man to change his mind. ‘‘I’m absolutely thrilled that he’s going. There’s a real groundswell of support for a 40% emissions reduction by 2020 and I’m glad he’s seeing that the people of New Zealand do care.’’

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For more about the Planet A Concert including Lucy videos go to AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Planet A Concert Page

For more about Lucy's role as Sign On Ambassador for Greenpeace, go to AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Sign On News & Multimedia