He’s battling southerly winds and dodgy knees but Steve Posselt is on a mission to raise awareness of climate change.
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The kayak adventurer set off from Ballina on New Year’s Day and will stop in Nowra during his eight week journey to Canberra.
He aims to collect 100,000 signatures for the Climate Emergency Declaration petition, which he’ll deliver to Canberra politicians at the end of his journey.
Mr Posselt will kayak down the coast to Moruya before dragging the kayak 180 kilometres up the mountains to Canberra.
“This is about my grandchildren and the future of people living today so I will keep on doing what I can while I’m alive.
- Steve Posselt
He’s set to arrive at Greys Beach, Nowra at 4pm on Saturday, February 4 on the final leg of his Connecting Climate Chaos Kayak Odyssey that has taken the passionate eco warrier around the world.
“This is about my grandchildren and the future of people living today so I will keep on doing what I can while I’m alive,” he said.
“I must be able to look my grandkids in the eye and say, 'Well, I tried my best'.”
Mr Posselt said the science of climate change is alarming, but he can reduce it to relatable figures.
"When I became aware of climate change I had to accept some unpalatable truths," he said.
"What the science is telling us is if we follow all the promises they made at Paris, my grandchildren will have a 67 per cent chance of living a full life expectancy.
"That is, they have a one in three chance of having an earlier than expected death because of the effects of climate change."
There are around a dozen events organised at cities and towns on the way, including Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Newcastle, Sydney, before finishing in Canberra.
Having previously set off on a trek from Canberra to Paris in 2015, Mr Posselt has a few tricks up his sleeve for dealing with the last 180 kilometres on land.
"When I became aware of climate change I had to accept some unpalatable truths.
- Steve Posselt
“I learnt last time that in the heat in Canberra you have to wear thick soled shoes and two pairs of socks,” he said.
“I’m ready this time.”
Steve’s climate change trips began when he was 54 and went from Brisbane to Adelaide in the 2007 drought.
His 2015 effort from Canberra to Paris saw him paddle and drag his kayak a combined 8000 kilometres over 11 months.
The petition Mr Posselt will deliver asks Parliament to declare a climate emergency and mobilise resources to restore a safe climate. It can be signed at climateemergencydeclaration.org
Mr Posselt will also be stopping at Culburra and Hyams Beach. Follow him at kayak4earth.com or on Facebook at Steve Posselt - K4E
