Hundreds of Montrealers march for stronger action on climate crisis

Environmental groups, students and political leadersin Montreal were among hundreds that gathered to call forstronger action on climate change from governments on Saturday.

The rally, organized by members of theRseau intersyndical pour le climat, congregated at the foot of Mount-Royal and marched through the Plateau neighbourhoodto call for immediateplans from leaders to address the crisis.

"Without significant action to redress the situation and achieve the target set [under the Paris Agreement], we are all headed for disaster," organizers said in a press release.

Many at Montreal'smarch calledfor carbon neutrality by 2030 in Quebec and said theyhopedCanada will cut its emissions and be a leader amongG7 nations.

Olivier Ct, an engineer who attended the protest, says while governments must do more to fight the climate crisis, everyone needs to do their part.

"The environment is the most important fight I think we should consider," he said. "It's a situation that will get worse and worse if we don't do anything for it."

The demonstrationcame a day after tens of thousands filled the streets of Glasgow, Scotland,which is currently hosting the COP26 UN climate summit, calling for more concrete action fromworld leaders.

On Friday,Swedish climate activist Greta Thunbergcondemned the talks in Glasgow as a failure.

That's why 15-year-old Mamy Sow isalready stepping up. The youngest speaker at Saturday's march, Sow says it'simportant for youthto mobilize and fight for what is right.

"I think it's important for us to keep our planet safe and to fight for it," said Sow, who holds the title of Montreal's young minister of the environment for Sors de ta bulle (Get out of your bubble), a youth mobilization campaign on climate change in Quebec.

The presence of some of Quebec's largest unions was also strong at the march.They want all levels of government to work with them so more companies can do their part in fighting climate change.

Anne Dionne, vice-president ofthe Centrale des syndicats de Qubec,represented over one million workers across the province at the march. She says the union isasking for immediate change.

"We need concrete action, we need structural action, we need the government to put in all the structures so we can actually reduce our consumption, reduce our emissions," she said.

At this week's UN-organized summit, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, along with more than 100 other nations, committedto ending deforestation by 2030.Canada also committed to reducingemissions by 40 to 45 per cent by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions within the country's electricity grid by 2035.

Climate protests were also held in other cities across Europe, including London, Paris, Dublin, Copenhagen, Zurich and Istanbul this weekend.

Sow admits she's worried about the future ofyounger generations, who have to shoulder the effects of climate change.She says she hopesthat changes will come sooner rather than later.

"Eco-anxiety is something a lot of young people are having right now because youdon't really know what's goingto happen, you don't know if anybody cares as much as youdo," she said.

"We're mentally ready for change and we will do everything to have it."