Calgary climate change rally draws hundreds

About 300 Calgarians joined hundreds of thousands of people around the world demanding action ahead of the Paris climate conference.

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Participant Scott MacDougall says action on climate change is starting to engage more people.

"This is bigger than the other marches," MacDougall said.

"Most people care about the issues around climate change and are supportive of politicians and organizations that want to be part of a positive movement toward improved climate management."

Recent climate change forums in Calgary and Edmonton have attracted hundreds.

For Shelley Willson, it's about moving towards multiple sources of energy.

"It doesn't mean the end for Alberta, it means the beginning," Willson said.

"I think we're starting the transition now in Alberta from an oil economy to an energy economy where we diversify and we get the patents on the technology and we can export it."

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Organizer Kim Finch with the Calgary Climate Change Action Network says she's feeling optimistic with new governments in Alberta and federally.

"The NDP government here in Alberta was able to implement their new climate and energy plan here, getting off coal by 2030, putting in a carbon tax and funding renewable energy," Finch said.

"So these are all things that we've been asking for, for a long time and (it) usually fell on deaf ears, but now we've got leaders that are starting to listen to us. That's incredibly exciting."

Rallies were also held in Edmonton, in cities across Canadaand globally.