MEMBERS of Climate Action Ilkley turned out to support the global Rise for Climate movement on Saturday, September 8.

Ilkley’s local climate action group, Climate Action Ilkley, hosted an event on the Grove in support of the global Rise for Climate movement.

Climate Action Ilkley asked the public to sign a petition calling on West Yorkshire Pension Fund to divest from fossil fuels, and over 100 people signed in support of this.

A spokesperson for the action group said: “People came from Harrogate, Nidderdale, Settle and Leeds in support of the action and there was overwhelming public support for increased action to tackle climate change.

“Globally over 250,000 people took part in more than 900 actions in 95 countries. The Rise for Climate mobilisation demanded political action to keep fossil fuels in the ground and deliver a swift and just transition to 100 per cent renewable energy for all.

“People have delivered clear demands to elected officials and decision-makers as they head into a series of important summits and negotiations to fix the climate crisis later this year. One month before the official release of the IPCC special report on 1.5°C and the upcoming United Nations climate change conference in Poland (COP24), activists have made clear that concrete steps are needed to quit fossil fuel production and slash emissions by 2020 as the only way to avert the worst case scenarios of climate change.

“Hundreds of thousands of people found creative and powerful ways to voice their concern for the state of the planet and to call for an end to fossil fuels and a worldwide transition to renewable energy before 2020.

“Climate Action Ilkley supports this global movement and is developing a range of initiatives to take action locally. The Neighbourhood Plan currently being developed by Ilkley Town Council is a key vehicle to deliver concrete proposals to move toward a zero carbon community.

“Climate Action Ilkley plans to work constructively with Ilkley Town Council to create a Neighbourhood Plan for Ilkley which will meet the future challenges caused by a changing climate.”