SHELBURNE FALLS — Parallel to Sunday’s New York City March to End Fossil Fuels, local environmental activists took to the streets of Shelburne Falls to show solidarity.

About 30 activists convened for the demonstration, which included a group singing session, a march from Bridge Street to Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School and a rally at the school where demonstrators listened to a series of speakers. This march and similar marches across the country are calling to stop new fossil fuel projects, phase out current fossil fuel drilling, declare a climate state of emergency and transition to renewable energy. The push comes just days before the United Nations’ Climate Action Summit on Sept. 20.

The demonstration began with a song circle on Bridge Street led by Shelburne Falls resident Sarah Pirtle. Pirtle performed a handful of environmentally conscious songs from all over the world, ending with “We Belong to the Earth” by folk duo Magpie. Prompting the crowd to accompany her for the chorus, Pirtle sang, “We belong to the Earth. We all belong to the Earth. It’s not that she belongs to us, it’s we belong to her.”

This set the tone for the afternoon.

In his speech at the school bandshell, Shelburne Energy Committee Chair Tom Johnson reached back in time 3 million years, long before humans were around to have any sort of relationship with the planet. It was, however, the last time Earth had such high amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Fossil fuel usage, he explained, has contributed to the atmosphere containing carbon dioxide at a ratio of 420 parts per million — about 140 more than if humans weren’t here.

“We weren’t around 3 million years ago. Our species has been on the planet for about 300,000 years, so we are encountering conditions that we have never experienced before,” Johnson said. “It’s really critical that we do something about this, and we do something about this as fast as we possibly can.”

He then credited the towns of Buckland and Shelburne for “making some headway” in combating climate change. An example he cited was the recent decision to convert Cowell Gymnasium from an oil-burning heat system to a mini split system. He also acknowledged the installation of solar panels on the roof at Mohawk Trail Regional School.

“I see this huge roof on Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School just waiting for solar panels,” he added.

Fellow Shelburne Energy Committee member Pat Stevenson later encouraged people to “find ways to consume less” in subtle ways as they go about life, such as making efforts to carpool, turning off lights when leaving a room, turning off the television when it’s not being watched and avoiding turning up the thermostat when it gets cold.

During his turn at the microphone, Shelburne Selectboard member Andrew Baker pulled out a thin piece of rope, describing it as a device he uses to reduce energy consumption. He revealed that it was a piece of his clothesline, which he uses year-round to dry his clothing.

“That’s how change happens. It’s us and our teaspoons, little by little, drop by drop, all of us doing what we can together,” Baker said, referencing an analogy by musician and environmental advocate Pete Seeger.

Organizer Paul Bennett previously said that “this fight is winnable if enough of us can make our voices heard.” The key to resilience in fighting such an uphill battle is optimism, stressed Lynn Benander, president of Co-op Power.

“Let’s bring our smile, our hope, our excitement and enthusiasm into making the changes … and join with the millions of other people around the world who are doing that,” Benander said. “All you have to do is smile and look for it and it’s all around us.”

Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-930-4231 or jmendoza@recorder.com.