As bushfire smoke enveloped the city and fire crews battled extreme conditions just a few hours away, protesters gathered in Canberra to demonstrate against the lack of action on climate change in Australia.
Between 150 and 200 people braved hazardous air quality to attend the protest in Civic on Saturday morning.
Uni Students for Climate Justice organiser Wren Somerville said it was important to participate in climate protests when bushfires and air quality were affecting the city.
"Politicians continue to just face the population with a smug disregard for human life. Like [Prime Minister] Scott Morrison going to Hawaii or continuing to deny the bushfires have anything to do with climate change, and [Opposition Leader] Anthony Albanese touring around coal mines in Queensland," he said.
Mr Somerville, a 20-year-old student, said it was "incredible" a protest four days before Christmas could attract such a crowd in Canberra.
The protest, organised by Uni Students for Climate Justice, was called at short notice, he said.
"I think people are really starting to feel the effects of climate change and seeing the reality of how the politicians, how the elite are facing this crisis," he said.
"[Politicians are] still not doing anything despite really, I think, making people very angry and making people want to do something, which I think is a positive that can come out of this very horrible situation."
He said the harsh summer conditions had encouraged more people to take action and participate in protests.
"It's not just a sort of abstract thing anymore but it's something that you feel in your throat, in your eyes when you go outside. It's not something that just seems like a distant problem or that you deal with later.
"It's something that's affecting people now."
