Sydney, Melbourne and other cities were the site of tens of thousands of Australians protesting climate change and calling for more action by the government.

Australia is in the midst of setting greenhouse gas emissions targets and the demonstrations have been timed to coincide with this, say participants who chanted calls for renewable energy.  The protestors also carried banners with slogans like "Renew our economy with strong targets" and "Turtles against climate change."

They accuse industry of lobbying for softer targets that may adversely affect the environment.  The government will highlight its emission targets after public consultations with global miners and utility firms.

The nation is the 16th largest carbon emitter, coal-reliant and emits about 1.5% of the world's carbon emissions.  The fourth largest emitter per capita, the country emits five times per person that China does.  

A draft framework in July drew a spate of accusations from steel, cement and papermaking groups who say they would be forced out of business or would have to move their operations to Asia to be profitable.

Climate Change Minister Penny Wong and Treasurer Wayne Swan recently published the results of Treasury modeling that found carbon trading would cut average per capita growth by 0.1% annually from 2010 to 2050, with only a minor one-off inflation effect.

Proceeds from the auction of emissions permits will be used for poor families and motorists for rises in the cost of fuel and electricity, promised the government.

Cate Faehrmann, the Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales state's ED, said the march came amid a background of pressure from the fossil fuels industry for the government to adopt relatively soft emissions targets.

"When it comes to climate change you just cannot have half measures when it comes to targets," Faehrmann said.

She added, "There is not enough investment in renewable energy in this country. Job creation can occur there."  THE END.