24°C | Wednesday December 4, 2024 
22 July 2024
By Hannah Wilcox
Community members are encouraged to be part of a movement advocating for climate change action by showing up and breaking down at an upcoming community-run live music concert.
Our Future, Your Duty – a free, all-age, drug and alcohol-free event – will run from 2pm to 5pm on July 28 at St Leonards Park.
Showcasing a range of local talent, the lineup includes soul and RnB artist Ruby Jackson, indie rock group Astrovan, cross genre band Røsemary and power trio the Sweet Baby Darlings.
All performers have either lived or attended a school in the North Sydney electorate.
Organised by climate activist Anjali Sharma, the mastermind behind the Duty of Care bill introduced to federal parliament last November, it aims to unite all Australians to build momentum for change.
The bill would compel the Government to consider the health and well-being of current and future Australian children when making decisions about whether to approve projects that could significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions.
Sharma hopes the concert will help encourage the government to start exercising their powers in a way that will not have detrimental impacts on the health and wellbeing of future generations.
“It’s a known fact that climate change will disproportionately impact the lives of current and future generations, and our politicians are making decisions right now that will intrinsically shape what our futures will look like,” Sharma said.
“This is a proposal not just embraced by much of Australia’s health sector, businesses, unions, and advocacy organisations, but by everyday people from all walks of life.”
She added: “The only people dragging their feet are the major parties, while the futures of young people hang in the balance.”
Independent Federal Member for North Sydney Kylea Tink encouraged locals to be a part of the change and get their tickets now.
“Climate change threatens the future health and wellbeing of all Australians, but especially young people,” she said.
“Unfortunately, our laws fall short in holding our government responsible for the environmental impacts of its decisions and the fossil fuel projects it approves. This needs to change, and the voice of young people can make a difference.”
Tink added: “If a government doesn’t have a positive duty of care to ensure the decisions it makes don’t negatively impact future generations, what is its job?”
“Yet two consecutive federal governments have now rejected the idea. We must demand better. The Our Future, Your Duty concert aims to provide a stage for young people to make their voice heard.”
North Sydney Council is proud to support the initiative, Mayor Zoe Baker said.
“Our community is dedicated to fostering a sustainable future and to listening to and acting on the voices of young people – events like this concert are crucial in amplifying our collective voice for change.”
She continued: “Local government is the only level of government that is required, by law, to take into account the impacts of decisions on the environment and intergenerational equity.”
“It is vital, in this climate emergency, that other levels of government are held to the same standard.”
Tickets are available via Humanitix.