We Attended Another School Strike 4 Climate and This Is What Students Had to Say

Original article can be found here.

“No more coal, gas or oil, keep your carbon in the soil!”

Earlier today, primary, high school, tertiary students and supporters came together at more than 30 rallies across the country to put pressure on the Australian government to do more in the fight against climate change.

For the second time this year, Student Edge made their way down to Parliament House in Perth/Boorloo WA to hear what young students had to say.

“We’re here to stand in solidarity with primary and secondary students that are out here today. We’re from the Curtin Student Guild, so uni students showing up to support, this is very important work, this is our futures, and the time has run out to dilly dally,” said Climate Strike attendee Jesse Naylor Zambrano.

“We’re outside of the Western Australian Parliament today. 233 years ago this Parliament didn’t exist, this is Wadjuk Noongar land and it has been for over 40,000 years and I would like to see policies that return sovereignty to Indigenous people whose land this is and that we take their lead in caring for land and living in harmony with it."

Led by students, teachers and allies, attendees demanded more meaningful climate action, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land rights, and for the federal government to commit to net-zero emissions by at least 2030.

“[I'd like] at the very least the reducing of emissions by big companies,” explained Climate Strike attendee Carma Norton.

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Speaking to attendees, it is clear that young people are feeling the negative mental health impacts from the threat of climate change and are committed to protecting the future that they will inherit.

“It’s a major source of anxiety for me," explained Climate Strike attendee Kathryn Barrett.

“I think watching people in power be highly apathetic to the issues that affect everyday people is an extremely frustrating process, especially for people that are disempowered by the system,” said Climate Strike attendee Ben Mamblin.

The crowd spread their messages of change outside the Parliament House building before marching down Malcolm Street.

The efforts from strikers in Perth and all around the rest of the country today are continuing to prove their worth. Just hours after the strike, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced he will be attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) later this month in Glasgow.

However, Mr Morrison has not yet struck a deal with the Nationals over the climate policy Australia will bring to Glasgow, including whether or not Australia will commit to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Starting on 31 October, the COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on climate change. This year’s summit is the 26th annual event and is vital to Australia’s action on climate change.

Also in attendance at the Perth rally was Western Australian Greens Senator Jordan Steel-John who explained the severity of this issue and why young people are so passionate about achieving climate action.

“[I’m] in solidarity with young people across the country that are rising and demanding climate action ahead of the Glasgow climate talks because we know our future’s on the line, and the current crop of politicians, whether that be Labor or Liberal, are just selling that future to the highest bidder,” he said.

“We’ve got so much at stake in this fight, we are living right now in the reality of the climate disaster before us and we will continue to grow up against this background of disaster unless there is urgent action.

“We’ve gotta have no new coal mines, no new gas plants, we’ve gotta have a just transition for communities affected by that but we’ve also got to have at least a 72 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030. Let’s cut through the greenwashing and get actual action”

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The strike today has come together all thanks to School Strike 4 Climate Change, an initiative run by high schoolers that encourages students around Australia to take the day off school to rally for climate change.

According to the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, we have just 10 years to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures or the risk of natural disasters and poverty will exponentially increase.

Inspired by Greta Thunberg's lone protest almost four years ago, students are frustrated with the world that they will be inheriting.

Today’s strike marks the fourth nationwide strike since November 2018 and although coronavirus put the event on hold last year, there's no sign of them stopping anytime soon.

“We’ve been talking about global warming ever since we’ve been in school… It’s kind of depressing to see that nothing’s been done about it, governments don’t take it seriously, people don’t take it seriously," said Climate Strike attendee Kimberly Pinto.

“We’re literally fighting for our future," continued Jesse.

If you missed this year's School Strike 4 Climate and want to do your bit, head to schoolstrike4climate.com to find out more.

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Header Image: Supplied