Global rallies to push for action on climate change
Local activists take part in simultaneous event calling for decisive agreement at UN summit
Up to 200 people, including prominent local activists and green campaigners, will stage a rally at Exchange Square in Central this weekend in support of the global fight against climate change.
Organisers say it will be a "rare event" for Hong Kong and a chance for city dwellers to "rise up and find their voice" against political inaction on climate change, and to push for decisive action on a climate agreement.
The so-called People's Climate March begins at 1pm tomorrow. Hong Kong will be one of dozens of cities around the world to simultaneously stage the event in the run-up to Tuesday's major United Nations Climate Summit.
The global campaign is being spearheaded by internet-based civic activist network Avaaz.
Sam Inglis, who was recruited by Avaaz to organise the Hong Kong march, admitted that the event's global name could be viewed negatively in Hong Kong, given the present sensitivity towards protests in the city amid the heated political reform debate. As a result, the local event would take place in the form of a flash protest.
"[We] want the governments of Hong Kong, China, and the world at large to know that we are not satisfied by meaningless platitudes and empty promises," Inglis said.