THE ACT will aim to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by between 25 and 40 per cent of 1990 levels by 2020, Minister for Climate Change Simon Corbell told the Walk Against Warming rally yesterday.
''I'm very proud to be part of a government that has agreed to a target of carbon neutrality by 2060,'' Mr Corbell told the rally of about 1500 people.
The rally was organised by the Conservation Council ACT to coincide with the International Day of Action on Climate Change.
Canberrans joined tens of thousands of other Australians in the capital cities as part of a national call for stronger action on climate change.
The rally, held on Federation Mall in front of Parliament House, began at 11.30am, after music from local band Tonight Alright.
The MC for the rally was Melbourne comedian Rod Quantock, who encouraged people to drop in on hunger striker Paul Connor on day 36 of his action on climate change.
The second speaker, Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury, applauded the Stanhope Government's climate change goals but criticised the Rudd Government.
''We want real climate change action, not the sorry excuse that Prime Minster Rudd tried to foist upon us,'' he said.
''We want major investment in the clean renewable energies of the future, not subsidies for the dirty coal industry.''
Australia Institute executive director Richard Dennis criticised political leaders for ignoring the problem for nearly two decades.
After the speeches, ralliers walked around Federation Mall behind a large effigy of Kevin Rudd labelled ''Old King Coal''.
For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times
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