Climate activists will take part in a global climate strike on Friday in what is expected to be the biggest day of climate demonstrations in the planet’s history.
From the Pacific Islands to New Zealand, Australia and Thailand, protesters took to the streets on Friday, demanding their governments take urgent steps to tackle the climate crisis and prevent an environmental catastrophe.
The protesters are calling for united action against Climate Change in the upcoming UN General Assembly.
In Australia, a massive crowd turned up for the protests, and they are estimated to be around 3,00,000.
Protests were staged in 110 towns and cities across the country, with crowds calling on the government to commit to a target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.
By going on strike on September 20 — and September 27 in a few countries — protestors hope to put pressure on politicians and policymakers to act on climate issues.
Not just individuals, brands and organisations are also participating in the climate strike. Schools in various countries have decided to give the students a day off for the protest.
The global climate strike is led by the 16-year old Greta Thunberg, a Swedish girl who has been fighting for climate change.
According to Swedish schoolgirl Thunberg, who is in New York ahead of the United Nations Climate Action Summit on September 23, around 4,638 events have been organized in 139 countries.
“Incredible pictures,” she wrote from New York. “This is the huge crowd building up in Sydney. Australia is setting the standard!”
Incredible pictures as Australia’s gathering for the #climatestrike
This is the huge crowd building up in Sydney.
Australia is setting the standard!
Its bedtime in New York…so please share as many pictures as you can as the strikes move across Asia to Europe and Africa! pic.twitter.com/7eAPUQPq5C— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) September 20, 2019
Thunberg is credited for creating a wave among the youth for climate activism.
In Canberra, the Australian capital, a 12-year-old primary school student told an estimated 10,000 people said she and her classmates had decided saving the planet was more important than classes.
“Politicians worry about us not going to school,” said Alison. “But we’re learning about the world, the danger we’re in and what we can do about it. We know it’s important to go to school and learn, but we know it is more important to save the planet for future generations to learn on.”
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