15,000 Kiwis expected for climate march

The Global People's Climate March, held around the country, is being driven by 10 main groups. Photo / Supplied

Organisers of a nationwide march on Saturday are expecting more than 15,000 Kiwis to take to the streets in a call for stronger climate action.

In Auckland alone, between 5000 and 10,000 people are predicted to join the Global People's Climate March, leaving from Albert Park at 11am on Saturday and ending in a mass haka in Queen St.

Further marches and demonstrations are expected in 33 other centres around the country.

The event, which in some major cities around the world is tipped to draw turn-outs of up to 500,000 people, is being described as the largest global mobilisation against climate change in history.

It's timed to coincide with the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, where close to 200 nations are hoped to lock in emissions-cutting pledges for beyond 2020.

Campaign convenor Kristin Gillies wanted the march to send a strong message to the Government, which is going to Paris with new target of slashing emissions by 30 per cent from 2005 levels, and 11 per cent from 1990 levels by 2030.

"We think the New Zealand has taken a woefully inadequate commitment to Paris and we don't think that's going to change once they get into the negotiating room."

The march had combined most of New Zealand's major environmental organisations, including Greenpeace, WWF and Forest and Bird, with other groups ranging from churches to unions.

Mr Gillies said the movement didn't hang its hopes on getting immediate change in Paris.

"Rather, our focus is very much about building our movement to keep pressure on past Paris."

The march also comes as the World Meterological Organisation warned 2015 could become the hottest year on record, owing to a combination of El Nino and human-influenced climate change.

The WMO said the global average surface temperature this year would also likely pass "the symbolic and significant milestone" of 1C.

"We have already warmed the atmosphere by more than half of the 2 C allocation," WMO chief Michel Jarraud said.

"This is of great concern."

* People can find out more about their local marches at the website www.peoplesclimatemarch.org.nz

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