Nearly thirty organizations have joined forces to form the Moving San Diego to a Clean Energy Future Coalition, which will push local elected representatives to further promote solutions to climate change. The group announced a rally in Balboa Park to be held on Saturday, September 24, which will focus on the expected impact of climate change in San Diego and steps that the group feels should be taken by officials to address greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental threats.

The Coalition, which counts among its members political organizations, bicycle clubs, religious groups, and trade unions in addition to groups with a more rigidly environmental focus, plans to welcome Congressman/mayoral hopeful Bob Filner and Solana Beach Mayor Lesa Heebner as speakers at the event. The demonstration is part of Moving Planet, a series of similar rallies to happen concurrently on the 24th.

“There is no question that San Diego County could reduce its carbon emissions by at least 50% by moving to a distributed energy model and increasing the percentage of renewable energy sources in the mix,” says Bill Powers, the author of “San Diego Smart Energy 2020” and the Sierra Club’s representative to SANDAG’s Regional Energy Working Group.

Before the group rallies, St. Paul’s Cathedral will host an interfaith panel discussion where representatives of various religions will discuss “their beliefs in terms of caring for and protecting Creation, especially in light of the climate crisis.” San Diego Earthkeepers, described by co-founder Phil Petrie as an “interfaith network of ministries concerned about environmental justice and care,” organized the discussion.

More information on Moving Planet and members of the Coalition is available at the group’s website, sandiego350.org.