Following a rising tide of awareness and concern about climate change, an environmental action group is organizing a peaceful “March for the Earth” in Sydney on Friday, May 24.

The march comes in the wake of CBRM’s declaration of a state of climate emergency, which City Council passed in a General Committee Meeting on Tuesday, May 7. The Council resolved to “Formally declare Climate Change as an emergency in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality” and to publish “a list of actionable items pertaining to preparation and mitigation of climate change impacts” for subsequent discussion.

But according to one local activist, “discussion” is not enough.

“The science is in. We have no time to lose,” Says Scott Sharplin, who coordinates the Cape Breton branch of Extinction Rebellion, a worldwide environmental action network. “We are inviting all Cape Bretoners to join us in a march to demand immediate action on the growing climate crisis.”

Sharplin, a local writer who teaches part-time at Cape Breton University, became involved with Extinction Rebellion last fall after reading a report from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. According to the IPCC report, the world’s nations have only 12 years to drastically reduce fossil fuel emissions before catastrophic, irreversible environmental effects occur.

“Canada is warming two to three times faster than other countries,” Says Sharplin. “So far, Cape Breton has been spared the worst effects: hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires. But if we don’t act now, we could easily be next.”

The public march on May 24, entitled “CBRM March for the Earth,” is timed to coincide with a global student strike organized by fridaysforfuture.org. The last global strike, on March 15, saw 1.5 million students leave their schools to demand climate action from their governments. “I’m not sure if Cape Breton students will march this time,” Says Sharplin, “But we want to march in solidarity with all the students. It’s their future we’re fighting for.”

CBRM March for the Earth begins at 12pm at Sydney’s Open Hearth Park. At 12:30, protesters will arrive at City Hall, to issue a list of demands to City Council. Guest speakers and musicians are being booked. Sharplin encourages citizens to check the Facebook Event page for updates.

For information about Extinction Rebellion and CBRM March for the Earth, please contact Scott Sharplin at [email protected].