Activists used a burning koala prop to highlight climate crisis

Thousands of activists have taken to the streets demanding stronger climate action, brandishing a ‘burning’ koala.

A giant smouldering koala puppet has been used to protest against inaction on climate change as activists took to the streets in Sydney and Melbourne.

The Extinction Rebellion protest kicked off in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda on Saturday with the giant puppet named “Blinky” the focal point of the protest.

“UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that it‘s code red for humanity. But Australia has gone to the last-ditch COP26 climate negotiations as a laggard and a wrecker,” Extinction Rebellion spokeswoman Jane Morton said.

“We are approaching the point of no return for out of control warming and billions of deaths. Today we are conducting a funeral.”

Extinction Rebellion protesters conducting a mock funeral procession featuring a burning Koala march in St Kilda on November 06, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Getty Images

Protests across Australia were organised as part of a global day of action demanding world leaders act decisively on climate to prevent catastrophic global warming. Photo: Getty Images

People wear caricatures of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (L) and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce (R) during a rally as part of a global day of action on climate change in Sydney. Photo: Steven Saphore

The four-metre high koala was flanked by red-robed “mourners” as musicians played with more than 100 protesters marching through the bayside suburb.

In Sydney, more than 1000 protesters marched through the city after congregating in Hyde Park.

The protests come as the UN hosts a summit on climate change in Glasgow, where Australia committed to reaching net-zero by 2050 but did not pledge to cut methane emissions.