Students descend on streets to strike for climate

Students begin climate protests in more than 55 locations across Australia causing traffic delays and road closures.

Students protest in Wellington this morning as part of a worldwide protest for climate. Picture: Twitter

Thousands of young activists have descended on streets across Australia and New Zealand in a student strike for climate.

Across the nation there are demonstrations in more than 55 locations between 9am and 2pm, causing temporary road closures and traffic delays in capital cities.

Children and young teenagers have already raised signs reading “I like my fries hot, not my planet” and “save our planet for our future”.

They're heeeere. #schoolstrike4climate #climatestrike pic.twitter.com/W88U3SfDs8

— ThomedySci (@ThomedySci) March 14, 2019

Other signs condemned Scott Morrison for “not showing proper leadership”.

“Mr Morrison, if you could please show some proper leadership on climate change, we could get back to school,” the sign read.

The marches are being run by the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, an activist organisation that is registered as a charity with 68 adult staff.

Students protest in Geelong. Picture: Twitter

In Sydney, students will gather at Town Hall at noon and march to Hyde Park, causing multiple road closures across the CBD. An estimated 10,000 people are expected to march in the city as more than 40,000 demonstrate across the country.

The Transport Management Centre is urging motorists to avoid areas where the protests are taking place and said to allow for extra time if catching public transport.

“Traffic is expected to be heavier than usual on nearby roads including Market Street, King Street, College Street and Macquarie Street,” A spokesman from the NSW Transport Management Centre said.

SYDNEY CBD: Some roads are planned to close btwn 1pm and 3pm for a march from Town Hall to Hyde Park via Park St. Avoid the area. https://t.co/NKmAToCRoo

— Live Traffic Sydney (@LiveTrafficSyd) March 14, 2019

The first strike in NSW was held in the state’s west in the Blue Mountains, and will continue in places including Gosford, Bega and as far north as Byron Bay, throughout the day.

In Queensland, Harvey Bay, Rockhapmton, Cairns and the Gold Coast will host students as they skip school to “demand urgent political action on climate change”.

Students in Hobart are protesting at Parliament House while Victoria will see strikes in Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo.

Melbourne demonstrators will be at the Old Treasury building at midday with an estimated 10,000 pupils expected to attend and Yarra Trams is encouraging the commuters to use the City Loop trains instead.

Rally in the City today: Possible disruption to trams along Bourke St, Collins St and Swanston St. Details https://t.co/HlhshRN3nX

— Yarra Trams (@yarratrams) March 14, 2019

Some school principals, who chose not to state their last names, rang the 2GB radio show this morning to denounce the strikes.

“Why wouldn’t every truancy officer in the state be down at that protest checking these kids out?” said one high school principal on 2GB.

Students protest in Sydney. Picture: Twitter

While Scott Morrison and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged students to attend school, NSW Labor leader Michael Daley backed the student walkout as the “right thing”.

The protest is part of the global School Strike 4 Climate campaign, inspired by 16-year-old Swedish student Greta Thunberg protesting outside the Swedish parliament in 2018.

She has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for her activism.

Meanwhile, in New Zealand Kiwi pupils marching on parliament have received a promisefrom their government. Climate Change Minister James Shaw today pledged to rallying students in Wellington that the government would pass long-awaited carbon emission reduction legislation this year.