AKIPRESS.COM - The People’s Climate March in New York has attracted nearly 400,000 people, say organizers, making it the largest climate march in history.
The march aims to shine a spotlight on environmental issues ahead of the U.N. Climate Summit on Sept. 23. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon took part in the two-mile march through the streets of Manhattan, along with musician Sting and actors Leonardo di Caprio and Mark Ruffalo.
“We said it would take everyone to change everything -- and everyone showed up,” said Eddie Bautista, executive director of the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, in a statement.
Dan Simmons, vice president for policy at the Institute for Energy Research, a Washington, D.C.-based free market think tank, told FoxNews.com that public desire for greenhouse gas reductions should not be over-stated.
“Environmental activists have tried really hard in recent years to raise the profile of greenhouse gas issues,” he said. “Limiting greenhouse gas is not something that the majority of Americans consider one of the most pressing issues of our time.”
Simmons highlighted the results of a recent Gallup poll where economic problems were cited by 41 percent of respondents as the most important problem facing America. Just 1 percent of respondents cited the environment and pollution, according to the poll.
Last week, in preparation for the Climate Summit, the U.S. outlined its plan for a possible global climate agreement. The Summit is seen as key milestone on the path to an agreement.