More than 100 people took part in a Climate Conversation in Dorchester at the weekend to mark Climate Justice Day – a midpoint in the ongoing COP26 negotiations taking place in Glasgow.

Town mayor, councillor Gareth Jones, said it was up to everyone to meet the threat of climate change: "This applies to governments, societies, industry and individuals."

Mr Jones talked about some of the council's green schemes in Dorchester. Practical projects include rolling out its biodiversity strategy for green spaces, such as planting trees in Kings Road, converting its vehicles to electric, installing ground source heat pumps at Dorchester's cricket ground in Weymouth Avenue, adding solar panels and putting in a biomass boiler and LED efficient lighting in the municipal building to boost heat recovery and cut emissions.

In his cry, Town crier Alistair Chisholm said it was vital for world leaders to act now for the sake of our children and future generations: "One minute to midnight – we've left it rather late, but if we all act boldly, we can control our fate. We must change the way we think and act in different ways, if we are to save this world we love for years and months and days."

Marigold Bentley, Dorchester Quakers spokeswoman, said it was important to be part of the national and global conversation on Climate Justice Day: "There is one human race and there is one planet. We have a role to play here on Dorchester – everyone can look at their own behaviour and lifestyle to protect the planet."

Ms Bentley, who worked for the United Nations in the 1980s, said the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had over the years played such a key role in informing nations and people what they need to do to combat climate change.

The event was organised by the Churches Together in Dorchester Ecology Group, which is chaired by Val Potter, and people took the opportunity to view stands and talk to representatives from Transition Town Dorchester, the community farm, Christian Aid and Climate Action Network.