Climate strike: Schoolchildren protest over climate change - BBC News
Futures Forum: School Strike for Climate Action UK > Friday 15th February > reports from Parliament Square and beyond
And it's been happening in Devon:
School Strike for Climate Change in Exeter | The Exeter Daily
Thousands of students striking for climate change - live updates - Plymouth Live
As reported by Devon Live:
Hundreds of Devon pupils swap school for climate change protest - live updates
Head teachers are urging schoolchildren to stay in lessons, as hundreds turn up at Devon County Council in Exeter
Alex Richards Deputy Head Of Content
UPDATED 17:31, 15 FEB 2019
Hundreds of schoolchildren and students have swapped their classrooms for the steps of Devon County hall to protest action against climate change. It's the first UK-wide education strike over climate change, coordinated by the UK Student Climate Network.
Banners have been unfurled and speeches are being made at the council HQ off Topsham Road.
Sophie Sleeman, a seventeen year old student at Exeter College said: “We’re swapping the classroom for active citizenship. Without a vote for sixteen-year olds, our generation - like the Earth we are trying to protect - has been silenced. Yet we are left with the inescapable noise that is climate destruction.
“We hope that by striking, awareness will be raised amongst those in power that the youth of today want action on climate change. We demand that the government declares a state of climate emergency and communicates the severity of the ecological crisis to the general public. Additionally, we want the curriculum reformed so that climate change becomes an educational priority.”
The students behind today’s action have also thrown their weight behind a Climate Emergency motion being debated and voted on by Devon County councillors on February 21. The motion will urge the council to pledge Devon to become carbon neutral by 2030.
Friday’s strike is the first in what looks set to be a series of escalating actions, with the next strike date set for March 15 as part of a global action.
The National Association of Head Teachers say children should not miss school unless in exceptional circumstances.
A spokesperson said: "There has been some press coverage this week regarding the UK Youth Strike 4 Climate. NAHT does not condone children and young people missing school as a consequence of supporting action.
"Pupils should only be out of school in exceptional circumstances. Whilst NAHT supports the right of young people to express themselves, first and foremost, pupils should be in school during term time. Nothing is more important than a child’s education and there are plenty of ways that children and young people can engage with social issues in school.
"While a school leader’s role is to ensure children attend school, are kept safe and receive a good quality of education, it is right that individual school leaders can decide how best to respond to any proposed protest by students in their school on Friday. To help with decision-making, NAHT’s advice team has produced some guidance to support school leaders who may need to consider what steps to take."
Natasha Pavey, from Exeter College, said: “I'm joining in because I love our planet and all the beautiful species that inhabit it. I hope that this movement will begin to alert those in power and make the adults wake up and help up save our future before it is too late”.
Cllr Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment talks about what the council is doing
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CLLR ROGER CROAD, DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL’S CABINET MEMBER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT TALKS ABOUT WHAT THE COUNCIL IS DOING
Extinction Rebellion activist Caspar Hughes
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Extinction Rebellion activist Caspar Hughes
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EXTINCTION REBELLION ACTIVIST CASPAR HUGHES
Sophie Sleeman, a seventeen year old student at Exeter College, talks about the climate change protest
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SOPHIE SLEEMAN, A SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD STUDENT AT EXETER COLLEGE
The full story
Hundreds of schoolkids in Devon have joined thousands of others around the country by taking part in the first UK-wide education strike over climate change. School, college and university students have ditched the classroom to congregate at Devon County Hall in a display of ‘active citizenship.’
Singing, a series of speeches from young people and a range of performances including drama and music are all taking place today as part of their aim to raise public awareness that young people are deeply concerned about issues related to climate change.
Devon County Council say they fully welcomes and supports the aims of the young people protesting about climate change.
Cllr Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment said: “There is no doubt there is a climate emergency and unless something is done, climate change will affect people, the environment, business and our prosperity. We fully support the objectives of young people to reduce carbon emissions and DCC has been working hard for many years to ensure that we are on course to meet the IPCC’s carbon reduction recommendations.
“We are working with strategic partners to develop a plan to ensure that Devon meets the internationally recognised target of carbon neutrality by 2050. If we are to stem the increase in global temperatures, everyone, of all ages and all walks of life has to work together.”
The council’s cabinet has recommended that Devon County Council declare a ‘climate emergency’ at a Full Council meeting on February 21. The cabinet also recommends that the council adopts a key recommendation of the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - for Devon to become carbon neutral by 2050 at the latest.
But campaigners from Extinction Rebellion, the movement engaging in non-violent direct action to persuade national and local government to act on climate change, are calling on Devon County Council to agree an even more ambitious target on eliminating greenhouse gas emissions.
The students behind Friday’s action have backed the original motion by Green Party councillor for Totnes and Dartington, Cllr Jacqi Hodgson, which called for Devon to be carbon neutral by 2030 and report within six months on what actions the Council will take to address the emergency in her motion. The recommendation that goes to full council is that councillors should accept a climate emergency motion, but with a carbon neutrality target of 2050.
Cllr Hodgson plans to make amendments to strengthen the motion at the meeting, and said: “Unfortunately, a motion with a 2050 target won’t take us to where we need to go. 31 years may seem like the right amount of time needed to reduce our emissions to carbon neutral, but the science is telling us we simply don’t have that long. The stark reality is we have just 12 years before runaway climate change could overwhelm us so need to get to grips with and act on our climate emergency urgently.
“This is not just a numbers game or simply more hot weather coming our way, the warming climate is already causing major extinctions to our wildlife and that loss of biodiversity threatens our food production and air quality. Major storms with flooding and unstable weather patterns are already claiming lives. How much more evidence do we need before decision makers take action?”
Extinction Rebellion activist Caspar Hughes added: “We want our 20 years back. In particular, young people need to know their future will be made more secure, and that means urgent action on climate change and achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 at the latest. An emergency motion that kicks carbon neutrality back to 2050 is not worthy of the name. Devon cannot be left behind. We need action now.”
Friday’s strike action has being coordinated by the UK Student Climate Network, a group of young people motivated by government inaction and determined to highlight the need for positive change to avert climate breakdown.
Sophie Sleeman, a seventeen year old student at Exeter College said: “Without a vote for sixteen-year olds, our generation - like the Earth we are trying to protect - has been silenced. Yet we are left with the inescapable noise that is climate destruction.
“We hope that by striking, awareness will be raised amongst those in power that the youth of today want action on climate change. We demand that the government declares a state of climate emergency and communicates the severity of the ecological crisis to the general public. Additionally, we want the curriculum reformed so that climate change becomes an educational priority.”
Natasha Pavey, from Exeter College, added: “I’m joining in because I love our planet and all the beautiful species that inhabit it. I hope that this movement will begin to alert those in power and make the adults wake up and help up save our future before it is too late.”
Cllr Matt Booth, who sits on East Devon District Council, had submitted a motion calling for the council to recognise that Climate Change and Global Warming are the key issues of our time, that there are strong concerns of young people, and that the council should commit to introducing a policy of carbon measurement and reduction. However, the motion has been rejected for debate at the next East Devon District Council meeting.
Cllr Booth said: “I see it as essential that the Council is seen to be taking this very seriously, for everybody especially the younger generation, and certainly be seen to be debating it. The motion proposed that we must focus on the main critical issue that we face, as outlined by the IPCC report, and that is for this Council to immediately address the urgent need to reduce carbon in the atmosphere to slow down global warming.”
Last year the IPCC’s 15th Special Report warned of the devastation a 2°C rise in global temperatures would cause. A 2°C rise in global temperatures, it said, would put up to 30% of all species at risk of extinction.
But by reducing emissions and thereby limiting warming to 1.5°C, 50% fewer species would be at risk of significant habitat loss, 10 million fewer people would lose their homes due to sea level rises and 420 million fewer people would be exposed to extreme heatwaves.
Fridays For Future - Exeter@fridaysforfutu6
Crazy turnout!!! Well done everyone!!!
10:14 AM - Feb 15, 2019 · Exeter, England
Hundreds of schoolkids in Devon have joined thousands of others around the country by taking part in the first UK-wide education strike over climate change. School, college and university students have ditched the classroom to congregate at Devon County Hall in a display of ‘active citizenship.’
Singing, a series of speeches from young people and a range of performances including drama and music are all taking place today as part of their aim to raise public awareness that young people are deeply concerned about issues related to climate change.
Devon County Council say they fully welcomes and supports the aims of the young people protesting about climate change.
Cllr Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment said: “There is no doubt there is a climate emergency and unless something is done, climate change will affect people, the environment, business and our prosperity. We fully support the objectives of young people to reduce carbon emissions and DCC has been working hard for many years to ensure that we are on course to meet the IPCC’s carbon reduction recommendations.
“We are working with strategic partners to develop a plan to ensure that Devon meets the internationally recognised target of carbon neutrality by 2050. If we are to stem the increase in global temperatures, everyone, of all ages and all walks of life has to work together.”
The council’s cabinet has recommended that Devon County Council declare a ‘climate emergency’ at a Full Council meeting on February 21. The cabinet also recommends that the council adopts a key recommendation of the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - for Devon to become carbon neutral by 2050 at the latest.
But campaigners from Extinction Rebellion, the movement engaging in non-violent direct action to persuade national and local government to act on climate change, are calling on Devon County Council to agree an even more ambitious target on eliminating greenhouse gas emissions.
The students behind Friday’s action have backed the original motion by Green Party councillor for Totnes and Dartington, Cllr Jacqi Hodgson, which called for Devon to be carbon neutral by 2030 and report within six months on what actions the Council will take to address the emergency in her motion. The recommendation that goes to full council is that councillors should accept a climate emergency motion, but with a carbon neutrality target of 2050.
Cllr Hodgson plans to make amendments to strengthen the motion at the meeting, and said: “Unfortunately, a motion with a 2050 target won’t take us to where we need to go. 31 years may seem like the right amount of time needed to reduce our emissions to carbon neutral, but the science is telling us we simply don’t have that long. The stark reality is we have just 12 years before runaway climate change could overwhelm us so need to get to grips with and act on our climate emergency urgently.
“This is not just a numbers game or simply more hot weather coming our way, the warming climate is already causing major extinctions to our wildlife and that loss of biodiversity threatens our food production and air quality. Major storms with flooding and unstable weather patterns are already claiming lives. How much more evidence do we need before decision makers take action?”
Extinction Rebellion activist Caspar Hughes added: “We want our 20 years back. In particular, young people need to know their future will be made more secure, and that means urgent action on climate change and achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 at the latest. An emergency motion that kicks carbon neutrality back to 2050 is not worthy of the name. Devon cannot be left behind. We need action now.”
Friday’s strike action has being coordinated by the UK Student Climate Network, a group of young people motivated by government inaction and determined to highlight the need for positive change to avert climate breakdown.
Sophie Sleeman, a seventeen year old student at Exeter College said: “Without a vote for sixteen-year olds, our generation - like the Earth we are trying to protect - has been silenced. Yet we are left with the inescapable noise that is climate destruction.
“We hope that by striking, awareness will be raised amongst those in power that the youth of today want action on climate change. We demand that the government declares a state of climate emergency and communicates the severity of the ecological crisis to the general public. Additionally, we want the curriculum reformed so that climate change becomes an educational priority.”
Natasha Pavey, from Exeter College, added: “I’m joining in because I love our planet and all the beautiful species that inhabit it. I hope that this movement will begin to alert those in power and make the adults wake up and help up save our future before it is too late.”
Cllr Matt Booth, who sits on East Devon District Council, had submitted a motion calling for the council to recognise that Climate Change and Global Warming are the key issues of our time, that there are strong concerns of young people, and that the council should commit to introducing a policy of carbon measurement and reduction. However, the motion has been rejected for debate at the next East Devon District Council meeting.
Cllr Booth said: “I see it as essential that the Council is seen to be taking this very seriously, for everybody especially the younger generation, and certainly be seen to be debating it. The motion proposed that we must focus on the main critical issue that we face, as outlined by the IPCC report, and that is for this Council to immediately address the urgent need to reduce carbon in the atmosphere to slow down global warming.”
Last year the IPCC’s 15th Special Report warned of the devastation a 2°C rise in global temperatures would cause. A 2°C rise in global temperatures, it said, would put up to 30% of all species at risk of extinction.
But by reducing emissions and thereby limiting warming to 1.5°C, 50% fewer species would be at risk of significant habitat loss, 10 million fewer people would lose their homes due to sea level rises and 420 million fewer people would be exposed to extreme heatwaves.
Fridays For Future - Exeter@fridaysforfutu6
Crazy turnout!!! Well done everyone!!!
10:14 AM - Feb 15, 2019 · Exeter, England
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