Organisers say more than one hundred thousand Australians took part in today’s Schools Strike 4 Climate across 60 locations.
They had three demands.
- Say no to all new fossil fuels
- Power Australia with 100% renewables by 2030
- Stop Adani’s coal mine
Students from across the nation were united on this common goal, with events taking place in every state capital, regional cities from Albury to Yeppoon and everywhere in between. Today’s action is not limited to Australia. More than 2000 events are due to take place worldwide across 125 countries.
The movement began as a solo protest in Sweden by then 15 year old Greta Thunberg in August 2018, but has quickly attracted global attention and inspired students and adults alike.
Thunberg, along with the students marching today are well and truly proving that “you are never too small to make a difference”.
Thunberg spoke these words to world leaders at the UN Climate Change Summit in Davos late last year, letting them know that “Change is coming whether they like it or not”.
Today’s march occurs a day after her nomination for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
Whist driven by students, today’s event had an open invite, with Greta tweeting:
“Everyone is welcome. Everyone is needed. Let’s change history. And let’s never stop for as long as it takes”.
More than 800 academics have signed an open letter in support of this student action and the demands of the movement. Similarly, more than 20 unions which represent 207 million workers in 154 countries have signed in solidarity.
This action comes at a pivotal time in terms of Australia’s political future. A National ReachTel poll this week reveals that two thirds of Australians believe it is important that politicians commit to immediate, serious climate action.
What can I do?
You can stand with the school strikers and advocate for strong climate change policies in a range of ways. To help you pursue climate action in your everyday life, we’ve come up with a range of steps that can be adapted to your situation and stage of life. Read our Climate Action Toolkit for more information.