Grandparents Day is also a day when we can reflect upon the challenges faced by our grandchildren and what we can do to help them.

A major concern for many grandparents is the threat posed by improperly managed climate change.

Australian grandparents will have witnessed over a decade of lack of Federal action on climate change.

We have experienced years wasted on "climate wars" rather than the development of a bipartisan science based plan for managing the threat escalating climate change poses to our grandchildren.

Grandparents will note with great concern that Australia is heading to the COP 26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, starting November 2, with a hastily cobbled together climate plan and commitment that nowhere near meets the emissions targets necessary for meaningful climate action. The United Nations announced on Wednesday of this week that the countries signatory to the Paris Agreement must come to the conference with detailed ready to roll plans with much more ambitious targets if we are to keep global temperatures under 1.5 degrees. Predictions for our current global commitment forecast global temperatures of 2.7 degrees.

A bleak outlook for future generations. To make matters worse, because of over a decade of inaction and still with no definite plan, Australia is at the back of the pack as far as level of commitment and planning is concerned..

Grandparents of Orange will have the opportunity to express their concerns about this state of affairs by coming together for a picnic in Robertson Park tomorrow, commencing 12pm. Proof of double-COVID vaccination will be required.

Bring a sign which reflects your concern about climate change, and how much more needs to be done if we are to avoid disastrous consequences for our grandchildren. After the picnic we will be walking to the office of our Federal member, Mr. Andrew Gee to demand more action on climate change from the Government he represents. (For more information contact ecco.orange@gmail.com.)

We do not want our grandchildren to face a future of catastrophic weather events, sea level rise and escalating global warming. As grandparents we want to leave a planet fit for our grandchildren. As grandparents we need to speak up on their behalf.