STROUD residents gathered at the Subscription Rooms today, in a global wave of protests calling for tougher action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions ahead of the UN climate summit in New York next week.

Actions took place all over the world, with the biggest event in New York where 100,000 got involved in the People’s Climate March.

It was one of 2,000 events taking place worldwide and organised by campaign group GlosCAN ahead of a United Nations climate summit next week where heads of government will meet.

Several hundreds of faces turned up in solidarity to highlight the need for an international agreement on capping carbon emissions.

With growing concerns over global warming, Arun Cappi a member of GlosCan, wants to see urgent action taken on climate change today.

“This is a global call for action; two thousand events are taking place today worldwide.

“We want to put pressure on worldwide leaders to take action on climate change,” he said.

The march started at the Sub Rooms where Stroud choir, Songs of Change serenaded the crowds and drums banged while children freely climbed the tree standing in the centre.

Finishing off at Rodborough Hall and sports field, police closed off roads in order to assist the march.

Green Party district councillor and head of environment committee at Stroud District Council, Simon Pickering, who gave a speech at the end said: “We will be better off in the future if we act now.

“Climate change is affecting us all, we should stop talking and start walking to take action.

“This will affect future generations and the poorer people throughout the world. It is the poorest people who suffer from climate change.”

With flooding issues becoming a major and ongoing concern in Stroud, former MP and Labour’s parliamentary candidate David Drew said: “Climate change is the issue we all face today.

“We are failing to meet our climate obligations, we still face difficulties.

“Our problem in Stroud is flooding as a result of climate change and we need to face up to it and look into where we are building.”

Ten thousand campaigners taking part in a similar march in London will have been able to get a glimpse of the action in Stroud as GlosCan’s Mr Cappi sent over video clips and photos to be shown on a large screen in central London.