Rally held at Alberta legislature ahead of climate-change talks

Protesters at the Alberta legislature joined thousands gathered in major cities around the world Sunday, all hoping to send a message to leaders attending the COP21 climate change conference in Paris.

"The message is, 100 per cent renewables is 100 per cent possible," said Kim Pudde, one of the organizers of Sunday's rally in Edmonton.

"We believe that a transition to clean energy is possible and necessary."

Some came dressed as cows, to protest animal agriculture.

The rally was co-ordinated with others across the world.

Emilia Kennedy, a policy co-ordinator with Greenpeace Canada, said the rallyaimed to give a message topolitical leaders set to hold climate-change talks this week in Paris.

"People want real action on climate change," she said. "People want their leaders to step up and commit to ambitious climate action."

Both Pudde and Kennedy say they're optimistic this week's meetings will lead to change.

Kennedy said climate change isn't only an environmental issue but a social issue as well.

"It's about what kind of society we want to live in and what kind of world we want."