Students around the world march against inaction on climate change
On Friday, March 15, 2019, in more than 100 countries, students participated in marches protesting inaction on climate change.
The coordinated "school strikes" were inspired by 16-year-old activist Greta Thunberg, whose protests outside of Sweden's parliament last year begat a "children's crusade" against governments whose policies are inadequate to protect the Earth's climate for future generations.
Pictured: Students protest to demand action on climate change in Lisbon, Portugal.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg
Environmental activist Greta Thunberg, 16, began protesting in front of Sweden's parliament last year, which inspired a series of "Fridays for Future" protests by students across Europe. That movement grew into an international day of protests on March 15.
On Friday Thunberg said, "We are standing in front of an existential crisis, the biggest crisis humanity has ever faced, and still people who knew about it have ignored it for decades. People who knew about it have ignored this; you know who you are. …
"This crisis that our children and their children will have to live with, we are not accepting it, and we will not let it happen, so that is why we are demonstrating. Because we want [a] future, and we will continue fighting."
Thunberg has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.
France
High school students demonstrate near the Pantheon monument, Friday, March 15, 2019 in Paris. Some students criticized French President Emmanuel Macron, who sees himself as the guarantor of the Paris climate accord, but is criticized by activists for being too business-friendly and not ambitious enough in efforts to reduce French greenhouse gas emissions.
France
High school students demonstrate in Paris, Friday, March 15, 2019.
Spain
Students protest to demand global action on climate change as part of the "Fridays for Future" movement in Madrid, Spain, March 15, 2019. Thousands of students marched in more than 50 Spanish cities, as the country is vulnerable to rising sea levels and rapid desertification.
Hong Kong
Hundreds of schoolchildren take part in a climate protest in Hong Kong, Friday, March 15, 2019. Students in more than 80 countries and territories worldwide plan to skip class Friday in protest over their governments' failure to act against global warming.
Hong Kong
A school student takes part in a climate protest in Hong Kong, Friday, March 15, 2019. Students in more than 80 countries and territories worldwide plan to skip class Friday in protest over their governments' failure to act against global warming.
Italy
Students take part in a protest demanding action on climate change in Rome, Italy March 15, 2019.
Italy
A student holds a sign during a protest demanding action on climate change, near the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, March 15, 2019.
Germany
Students attend a protest rally of the "Friday For Future Movement" in Erfurt, Germany, Friday, March 15, 2019.
Germany
Students attend a protest rally of the "Friday For Future Movement" in Berlin, Germany, Friday, March 15, 2019. Outside the Chancellery, protesters demanded an end to coal-fired energy. Germany is planning to phase out coal - in about 20 years.
Germany
Students attend a protest rally of the "Friday For Future Movement" in front of the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, March 15, 2019.
Greece
A student shouts slogans during a protest against climate change in Athens, Greece March 15, 2019.
India
Students perform under a shade made from used plastic bottles as they take part in a global protest against climate change in Gurugram, India, March 15, 2019.
India
A student takes part in a global protest against climate change in Mumbai, India, March 15, 2019.
In New Delhi, schoolchildren protested inaction on rising air pollution levels that often far exceed World Health Organization limits.
Philippines
Students and activists hold signs as they join a demonstration to call for strengthened measures against global warming in Manila, Philippines on Friday, March 15, 2019.
South Korea
Participants form a human pyramid during a rally for global climate strike for future in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 15, 2019. About 150 students and other protesters attended a rally to protest their governments' failure to take sufficient action against climate change.
South Africa
Students in Cape Town, South Africa take part in a protest Friday, March 15, 2019 as part of a global student strike against government inaction on climate change.
South Africa
Students take part in a global protest against climate change in Cape Town, South Africa, March 15, 2019.
Poland
Polish school students join a global school protest for climate protection in downtown Warsaw, Poland, Friday, March 15, 2019. Students in Warsaw and other Polish cities demanded a ban on burning coal, a major source of carbon dioxide.
Portugal
Some bears are afforded more protection than others, as noted in a sign carried by Portuguese students protesting to demand action on climate change in Lisbon, Portugal March 15, 2019.
Portugal
Students protest to demand action on climate change in Lisbon, Portugal March 15, 2019.
Sweden
Young people participate in a student protest in Lund, Sweden, Friday, March 15, 2019. Students in cities worldwide skipped classes Friday in protest over their governments' failure to act against global warming.
New York
Students gather with signs for a Climate Strike rally on the campus of Columbia University, Friday March 15, 2019, in New York.
Washington, D.C.
Young demonstrators join the International Youth Climate Strike event at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, March 15, 2019.
Washington, D.C.
Young demonstrators join the International Youth Climate Strike event at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, March 15, 2019.
California
Students march to Market Street during a protest against climate change Friday, March 15, 2019, in San Francisco.
California
Students march onto Market Street during a protest against climate change Friday, March 15, 2019, in San Francisco.
California
Students attend a protest rally to call for urgent action to slow the pace of climate change, in Los Angeles, March 15, 2019.
California
Students attend a protest rally to call for urgent action to slow the pace of climate change, in Los Angeles, California, March 15, 2019.
California
Students attend a protest rally to call for urgent action to slow the pace of climate change, in Los Angeles, March 15, 2019.
Minnesota
Around 1,000 Minnesota students skipped school to gather on the steps of the state Capitol Friday, March 15, 2019 in St. Paul, as part of global protests by young people to demand that governments take swift and decisive action to fight climate change.
England
Young demonstrators calling for action against climate change sit in the road by Trafalgar Square as they take part in a student climate protest at the bottom of Westminster Bridge in London, Friday, March 15, 2019.
England
Young people march across Westminster Bridge as they take part in a student climate protest in London, Friday, March 15, 2019.
England
A demonstrator wearing a mask depicting American President Donald Trump takes part in a protest against climate change, organized by the YouthStrike4Climate movement, in London, March 15, 2019. Shortly after taking office in 2017, President Trump announced he would withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, negotiated by 196 countries, to limit the increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
Canada
Students hold a protest against climate change on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, March 15, 2019.
Belgium
Students and others march with signs and banners during a climate protest in Brussels, Friday, March 15, 2019.
Chile
Students shout slogans while holding a sign in Spanish that reads,"You are also Nature," as they march to demand action on climate change, in Santiago, Chile, Friday, March 15, 2019.
Argentina
A student holds a placard that reads "Let's save our planet" during a protest to demand global action on climate change as part of the "Fridays for Future" movement in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 15, 2019.