Extinction Rebellion risks polarising public on climate, veteran activist says

Major environment groups, including the Australian Conservation Foundation and Greenpeace, back XR protests

The head of one of Australia's largest environment groups has warned Extinction Rebellion protesters they could be creating division on environmental issues at a time when "cool heads" are needed.

Lyndon Schneiders, national campaigns director for the Wilderness Society and a veteran activist, told Guardian Australia he hoped the XR campaign would not hand more power to the fossil fuel lobby by causing further polarisation.