School Strike for Climate

Greta Thunberg 4

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Old town Stockholm the bike of Greta

School strike for Climate Brussels 24 January 2019

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Start of the FridaysForFuture Demonstration 25-01-2019 Berlin 28

Like the sea level, we rise, Berlin 08.02.2019 (cropped)

Fridays For Future in Bozen

School Strike for Climate, also known as Fridays for Future, Youth for Climate, Climate Strike or Youth Strike for Climate, is an international movement of school students who skip classes to participate in demonstrations, demanding action to prevent further global warming and climate change. The movement began in August 2018 when Greta Thunberg, a Swedish high school student, protested outside the Swedish parliament holding a sign that read "Skolstrejk för klimatet" (School strike for climate). Thunberg's solitary act of protest has since inspired a global movement, leading to coordinated multi-city protests involving over a million students worldwide.

Origins and Growth

The School Strike for Climate originated with Greta Thunberg's protest in Stockholm, Sweden, in August 2018. Thunberg, then 15, was motivated by the record heat waves and wildfires occurring in Sweden at the time. She decided to not attend school until the 2018 Swedish general election on September 9, demanding that her government reduce carbon emissions in accordance with the Paris Agreement. Thunberg's actions gained international attention, inspiring students around the world to organize their own school strikes.

By December 2018, thousands of students across Australia, Belgium, the UK, the United States, and other countries had joined the movement. The protests typically take place on Fridays, echoing Thunberg's initial protest, leading to the movement being dubbed "Fridays for Future".

Impact

The School Strike for Climate has had a significant impact on public discourse around climate change. The movement has been credited with raising awareness of climate issues among young people and the general public, as well as putting pressure on politicians and policymakers to take action on climate change. In some countries, the strikes have led to governmental discussions about increasing efforts to combat climate change and reduce emissions.

Criticism and Challenges

The movement has faced criticism from some who argue that students should not skip school and that the strikes are ineffective or counterproductive. Critics also argue that the movement places undue pressure on young people to solve problems created by older generations. Despite these criticisms, the movement has continued to grow, with students arguing that the urgency of climate change necessitates immediate action and justifies their protests.

Global Climate Strikes

Following the initial school strikes, the movement has organized several global climate strikes, where students and adults alike have participated in large-scale demonstrations. The most notable of these took place in September 2019, coinciding with the United Nations Climate Action Summit. Millions of people around the world participated in the strikes, making it one of the largest climate change protests in history.

Future Directions

The School Strike for Climate movement continues to evolve, with students around the world organizing regular strikes and other actions to demand climate action. The movement has also inspired a broader range of activism and initiatives focused on combating climate change and promoting sustainability.