Sydney warms up to walk for change

Chippendale resident Michael Mobbs will join an estimated 15 to 30 thousand people taking part in this Sunday’s Walk Against Warming in Sydney.

The creator of Sydney’s first self-sufficient house and author of ‘Sustainable House’ said community actions such as Sunday’s event help to secure government support for the fight against global warming.

“A change is clearly happening among ordinary people like us but the politicians just don’t hear it,” he said “they only hear the people that have the money to lobby them.

“But I think bit by bit there’s a really strong voice being given now to people who are doing this.”

Created by the Nature Conservation Council, the event will see hundreds of thousands of people across the country walk to raise awareness about carbon pollution.

Sydneysiders will make the trek from Belmore Park in the CBD up Elizabeth Street to Bathurst Street and from there to Castlereagh Street and back into Belmore Park.

An estimated 15 to 20 thousand Sydney residents joined up to 90 thousand participants Australia-wide last year and the NCC hopes to see about 30 thousand this year.

NCC Chief Executive Officer, Pepe Clarke, said the event puts government members on notice to develop a plan of action to reduce carbon pollution and address climate change.

“Less than a week out from the Federal election, the community will send a clear message that although many households and individuals have made the changes needed to reduce their emissions, they now want more effective government action to reduce carbon pollution,” he said.

“The majority of the community are sick of waiting for national climate policy.”

The City of Sydney continued a four-year long tradition with a $5000 cash grant to the NCC in support of the event.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said in a statement the event closely mirrored the “ambitious greenhouse gas emission reductions targets” outlined as part of Sustainable Sydney 2030.

“The City is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, cutting energy consumption and reducing our carbon footprint,” said Ms Moore.

“We are proud to help other organisations do the same.”

Mobbs said the results he has achieved in his sustainable house are within the reach of most Sydney residents.

“If I turn this on now, you only know because I’m telling you it’s coming from the sun,” he said.

“There were a lot of people who said I couldn’t do the things I’ve done here but fourteen years on here we are.

“You don’t have to change to do this…the best thing about the house is that it looks and feels like an ordinary terrace.

The Walk Against Warming event will take place this Sunday, August 15. For information go to www.walkagainstwarming .org.

For more information about Michael Mobbs go to http://sustainablehouse.com.au/

By Simon Black