Orange residents need to embrace solar energy, the community needs more solar farms and people should urge Orange City Council to declare a climate emergency.
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That's the view of climate action group Extinction Rebellion Blue Mountains group member Professor Roy Tasker.
Professor Tasker, who is also the chief scientific officer for Planet Ark said action was needed now to reduce fossil fuel emissions.
He was speaking to about 50 concerned people at a meeting and picnic in Cook Park on Sunday to seek to form an Orange branch of XR.
Professor Tasker said the climate was in strife due to fossil fuel emissions with global temperatures rising and "crazy weather events all over the world" occurring.
"We have to pull out all the stops. We have to make our local governments have a change of mind and declare a climate emergency," he said.
"There are a lot of things the could be done that could make a difference."
Professor Tasker said Australia needed to switch from coal power to wind and solar power.
We're going to say we're not going to take it anymore.
- Professor Roy Tasker, Extinction Rebellion
"What we need now is a just transformation from where we are right now to a new economy.
"Instead of exporting coal we should be exporting hydrogen."
Professor Tasker said he had been involved in a variety of protest actions in Sydney ranging from 'flash mob-style' community singing to being arrested for blocking streets.
"Extinction Rebellion is a way for the community to kick up a fuss. We're going to say we're not going to take it anymore," he said.
Professor Tasker said XR's aim was to change 'political will' to get all levels of government to embrace the need for change.
"XR is focussing on the emissions. We haven't got the luxury of time," he said.
Professor Tasker said Australia needed to reduce its emissions soon.
"We have to turn it around by the end of next year," he said.
"The insidious thing about climate change is that it is slowly creeping up."
XR organiser Kate Allen is seeking to start a group in Orange.
She said she would consider the various forms of action used by XR with a community singing protest group a likely first step.
Ms Allen said they planned to hold their next meeting in Orange on February 1.
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