Hundreds of climate change activists are getting ready to bring city traffic to a standstill next month.

The group Extinction Rebellion is planning to make key routes around Westgate Towers in Canterbury impassable on Saturday, January 5 in an effort to raise awareness of the global warming crisis.

Elsewhere, protesters linked to the international movement have blocked roads, glued themselves to the gates of Buckingham Palace and staged mass sit-ins at the entrance to Downing Street.

With leading scientists saying there are only 12 years to limit climate change to 1.5°C, it is calling on local, regional and national government to urgently commit to bringing down carbon emissions.

Although they are not revealing their exact tactics ahead of the day, Nicholas Thurston, a spokesman for Extinction Rebellion Canterbury, said hundreds of people are expected to gather at the Guildhall at 11am to 'swarm' the city centre.

Combined with the closure of Station Road West to allow for the construction of a new multi-storey car park, the demonstration is likely to make the area impassable for motorists.

"Climate change is the defining challenge of our age," he said.

"When government fails us, we have to be prepared to take drastic measures. This includes acts of non-violent civil disobedience to raise attention to the issues.

"It's not getting at car drivers or road users, it's a way of bringing to people's attention how little time we have got left to reduce our emissions. We're all in this together and we're all part of the problem."

The group, which wants Canterbury City Council, Kent County Council and Rosie Duffield MP to declare a climate emergency and create 'Citizens Assemblies' to devise action plans, says police are aware of the demonstration and that contingency measures for emergency services are being planned.

"On a personal level, I'm an ordinary working dad," 47-year-old Mr Thurston, a former environmental engineer who now works at the University of Kent, said.

"I find it excruciatingly embarrassing to have to take part in protests and action. But I can't really look at my children in the eye and live through this and not do anything about it.

"When I was younger, these issues were starting to be spoken about, but I've lived through my whole life and seen so little change, and emissions keep on growing across the world.

"Our message is to come and join us, lovely people. This is our future."