Global Strike 4 Climate: 300,000 people rally around Australia

A record-breaking 300,000 people marched in co-ordinated rallies across the country demanding climate action.

Organisers behind the school strike for climate change movement have hailed Friday’s event a “historic show of support for action”, claiming a record 300,000 people gathered at co-ordinated rallies across the country.

Bolstered by the support of more than 2000 businesses, universities, and dozens of union groups, the turnout in Melbourne swelled to an estimated 100,000, Sydney estimates ranged between 50,000 and 80,000, while in Brisbane about 30,000 gathered. Events in Hobart, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra also attracted tens of thousands.

No words needed. 💚 Sydney. You’re amazing. #ClimateStrike

(Next challenge, finding my own kids in this! 😬) pic.twitter.com/WtGUVpSOEL

— Mike Cannon-Brookes 👨🏼‍💻🧢 (@mcannonbrookes) September 20, 2019

School Strike 4 Climate organisers estimated a more than doubling of numbers since the previous strike held six months ago in March 2019.

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Teenage climate activist Daisy Jeffrey, who MC’d the rally in Sydney’s Domain, reminded the crowd that students had previously said that earlier strikes were “just the beginning”.

“We said … that we would keep striking, keep taking action and do everything that we could … and today shows that we followed through with that promise,” she said.

Thousands of strikers converged on Sydney’s Domain Picture: News Corp

School Strike 4 Climate rallies and marches took place in 110 cities and towns, with participants demanding a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and a transition to 100 per cent renewable energy. They are part of worldwide protests being held before leaders meet for the UN Climate Action Summit in New York next week.

Demonstrators at a protest in Sydney Picture: Emily Ritchie

In Melbourne, a large group of activists attracted attention by donning face masks depicting Greta Thunberg, the 15-year-old Swedish girl who started the global movement encouraging schoolchildren to strike.

Greta Kickstarted the worldwide climate movement sparking today’s day of action.. now MELBOURNE attendees are holding up a mask of her face.. @10NewsFirstMelb #springst pic.twitter.com/hPx2yhfUT9

— Simon Love (@SimoLove) September 20, 2019

Miss Thunberg, who is currently in the US to participate in the UN’s youth climate forum, acknowledged the local efforts on social media.

“Incredible pictures as Australia’s gathering for the #climatestrike,” she tweeted alongside a photo of large crowds forming 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

Schools have been mixed on the question of whether or not to support student protesters. The heads of several Sydney private schools, including Knox Grammar, Newington College and SCEGGS Darlinghurts, provided permission to striking students, however the NSW Education Department did not support student absences for the purpose of striking. NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said she was not convinced that strikes could not take place outside of school hours.

Catholic Schools NSW issued a blunt warning to students: “Skipping school doesn’t change the world”.

Climate change protesters march through the streets of Geelong. Picture: Alison Wynd

Universities confirmed they would not penalise students for attending rallies, while a senior lecturer at Melbourne's RMIT University offered engineering students full marks on an assessment if they attended Friday's climate strike. Hormoz Marzbani told students they could skip his lecture to attend the strike, receiving full marks for that day, in return for emailing him a group selfie from the event.

Attending the Brisbane rally, Mountain Creek State High School student Lucy McDougall said she should have been sitting a “significant” chemistry exam on Friday.

“Of course I’m concerned about missing that,” the 16-year-old said. “But this is more important. This is a crisis and it’s our future at risk.”

Thousands of climate strike marchers have taken to the streets of Brisbane Picture: News Corp

Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack denounced the climate protests, claiming that students would learn more at school than at a protest rally.

“I think these sorts of rallies should be held on a weekend where it doesn’t actually disrupt business, it doesn’t disrupt schools, it doesn’t disrupt universities,” Mr McCormack said.

The #ClimateStrike has spilled onto the street with police cars heading the way. #Auspol pic.twitter.com/gQ5CAEaNMx

— Amaani Siddeek (@AmaaniSiddeek) September 20, 2019

Scientist Tim Flannery said Australians desperate for climate change action were now in open rebellion against the federal government.

Professor Flannery, who led the Climate Commission before the Abbott government axed it six years ago, compared the school strikes to the Eureka rebellion of 1854.

“Civil society has been torn, like it was during the Eureka Stockade times,” he told ABC radio.

“Rebellions happen when governments fail their people and that’s what we’re seeing right now — a rebellion because government has failed its people.”

Additional reporting: AAP