As thousands of protesters marched in Melbourne on Saturday, so too were the Stop Adani Albury-Wodonga Group warning of links between current bushfires and fossil fuels.
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Leading the 'big letters walk' down Dean Street, the group's convenor Tracey Esler said underwriting the severity of this year's fires were increasing global temperatures and drought, exacerbated by climate change.
"Communities throughout our region and the whole of Australia are struggling to survive fossil-fuel-driven drought, dried up rivers and temperature extremes," she said.
"The world has only reached 1.1 degree of warming ... it is on track for over 3 degrees.
"Can you imagine the horror scenarios that will play out if we don't turn these rising global temperatures around?
"We must urgently transition away from fossil fuel use and an obvious first step is to stop the Adani coal mine and save the Great Artesian Basin from destruction."
Some marchers wore masks and others held signs about loss of animals and ecosystems.
Alison Veld of Wodonga created a banner urging people to "join the dots" between coal, climate change and bushfires.
"I've been supporting the group's actions for more than two years.
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"At least it's something that I can do; it's something constructive.
"My feeling is we're part of the groundswell and we mustn't let up, because it's the drip-drip-drip that wears things down.
"When the bulk of the population is increasingly loud, it can lead to change.
"We've got to hope our actions are making a difference, even if we aren't able to prove it."
In an interview with ABC Breakfast on Sunday morning about a package to support the tourism industry amid fires, Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said "We absolutely have to be serious about climate change efforts".
