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Climate strike: Schoolchildren protest over climate change
15/02/19
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Feb. 15, 2019
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Pupils from around the UK went "on strike" on Friday as part of a global campaign for action on climate change.
Students around the country walked out of schools to call on the government to declare a climate emergency and take active steps to tackle the problem.
Organisers Youth Strike 4 Climate said protests took place in more than 60 towns and cities, with an estimated 15,000 taking part.
They carried placards, some reading: "There is no planet B."
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The action was part of a much wider global movement, known as Schools 4 Climate Action.
It began with 15-year-old Swede Greta Thunberg skipping class to sit outside government buildings in September, accusing her country of not following the Paris Climate Agreement.
Since then, tens of thousands of children across Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and Australia have been inspired to hold their own demonstrations.
The biggest protests were held in London, Brighton, Oxford and Exeter, the UK Student Climate Network said.
The group, which helped coordinate the protests, has four key demands:
- The government should declare a "climate emergency"
- It should also inform the public about the seriousness of the situation
- The national curriculum should be reformed to include "the ecological crisis"
- The age of voting should be lowered to 16 so younger people can be involved in decision-making around environmental issues.
Greta tweeted about the UK protests, writing: "British PM says that the children on school strike are 'wasting lesson time'. That may well be the case.
"But then again, political leaders have wasted 30 yrs of inaction. And that is slightly worse."
- Scottish children strike 'to save planet'
- Hundreds protest in Cardiff
- Belfast rally calls for action
Image copyrightAFP/GETTY
A Downing Street spokeswoman said that, while it was important for young people to engage with issues like climate change, the disruption to planned lesson time was damaging for pupils.
The National Association of Head Teachers said it did not condone children missing school to take part in the action and that "nothing is more important than a child's education".
It said "individual school leaders can decide how best to respond" to any protests involving its students.
However, energy minister Claire Perry said she was "incredibly proud" of young people's passion and concern.
She told the BBC: "I suspect if this was happening 40 years ago, I would be out there too."
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said schoolchildren were "right to feel let down by the generation before them", while Green Party MP Caroline Lucas said it was the "most hopeful thing that's happened in years".
Skip Twitter post by @jeremycorbyn
Climate change is the greatest threat that we all face but it is the school kids of today whose futures are most on the line.
They are right to feel let down by the generation before them and it’s inspiring to see them making their voice heard today. #SchoolStrike4Climate
End of Twitter post by @jeremycorbyn
Skip Twitter post by @CarolineLucas
Feeling quite emotional! Incredible turnout in #Brighton for #climatestrike.
This is most hopeful thing that's happened in years.
Exciting thing is positive policies like #GreenNewDeal are taking off too.
We can win this fight for a safer, fairer future!#schoolstrike4climate
End of Twitter post by @CarolineLucas
She addressed campaigners in Brighton, saying they should be allowed to miss school because of "exceptional circumstances".
She said: "The time for talking is over, and time for action is now."
Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
In London, 15-year-old Christina said the issue was too big to ignore.
"A lot of us are very good, obedient students but when it comes to climate change, it's really important," she said.
"The youth of our time tend to get pushed to one side. We often stay quiet but when it comes to climate change we are going to have to pay for the older generation's mistakes."
Scarlet, 15, from Suffolk, is part of the UK Student Climate Network. She said: "We want the UK government to declare a climate emergency and make moves to achieve climate justice, prioritising this above all else.
"We're demanding the government listen to us and we will continue to make a noise until they do so.
"It can't be about behaviour change any more; it has to be about system change."
Image copyrightPA
Another nationwide protest has been planned for 15 March.
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