Thousands of students across the country are skipping school today to join global protests demanding urgent action on climate change.
Led by the student movement Fridays For Future, countries all over the world will participate during the day.
At the same time, demonstrations, marches and rallies are being held in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and New Plymouth to raise awareness about global warming and demand action from leaders.
Protesters against climate change are on the move in Wellington.
Wellington’s School Strike 4 Climate group says it has six key demands it is fighting for this year.
It says its main focus is on the country’s biggest carbon emitter, the agricultural sector, but it also wants the government to cut transport emissions.
Among those present in Parliament, James Shaw, co-leader of the Green Party, was met with rousing applause.
He urged them to continue their action, saying the cause was necessary to regain momentum, following Covid’s lead.
A spokesman for School Strike 4 Climate Wellington, Izzy Cook, said other demands included ending coal and gas exploration.
“The government has said it is committed to being carbon neutral by 2050, but based on the changes being made to the way we live and the policies being introduced and things like that… I think and I I think a lot of other climate activists think the government just isn’t doing enough and that’s why we’re on strike,” she said.
Cook, a 12th-year student, said she was concerned about the impact of climate change on her future, or she might even have a future unless urgent action is taken now.
The events were expected to end at 2 p.m.