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World witnesses biggest ever climate march
The world witnessed the biggest ever climate change march as the crowds poured into New York’s Battery Park on Friday; young and old school and work strikers in 150 countries from all continents including Antarctica, took to the streets.
The march was staged under “Fridays for Future” which is a dynamic global student movement inspired by Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg.
Thunberg has received the 2019 Champions of the Earth award – the UN’s highest environmental honor – for this innovative idea which is meant to electrify the global conversation about climate change at a time when the window of opportunity to avoid the worst effects of rising temperatures is rapidly closing. Millions of passionate activists have joined the movement to insist that their voices be heard.
The time to act on climate change has never been more urgent, the marchers in New York City chanted. Their message was conveyed best by Fridays for Future founder, 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
Warning against empty promise and token praise, Thunberg challenged world leaders, gathering in New York for the Climate Action Summit and United Nations General Assembly, to step up to tackle the climate crisis with action, not words.
Speaking to crowds of 250,000 gathering in the heat of the day following the march from Foley Square, she said “We deserve a safe future. We demand a safe future, is that really too much to ask? Right now, we are the ones who are making a difference, if no one else will take action, then we will. It should not be that way, we should not be the ones fighting for the future, and yet here we are… Together, united, we are unstoppable. This is what people power looks like.”
Those most responsible for this crisis will be held accountable, she added. And: “If you belong to that small group of people who feel threatened by us, then we have some very bad news for you. Because this is only the beginning. Change is coming, whether they like it or not,” she said.
Around the world, more than 4 million people joined the marches to protest inaction on climate change.
In Australia, 350,000 people took to the streets. Crowds gathered in London, Berlin and cities around the world. “This is the biggest climate strike ever in history, and we all should be so proud of ourselves because we have done this together,” said Thunberg.
Meanwhile, Niklas Hagelberg, the climate change coordinator of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), said “Youth and the younger generation have every reason to be out and asking for action because climate change will be part of their lives.”
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