Hundreds of students and youth in Victoria joined thousands across Canada and worldwide in a National Youth Climate Strike this afternoon.
Canadian students are rallying today to demand climate action from federal and provincial governments, including:
- Bold Emissions Reductions Targets
- Separation of Oil and State
- A Just Transition
- Environmental rights
- Indigenous rights
- Conservation of Biodiversity
- Protection for Vulnerable Groups
In Victoria, approximately 300 people gathered at City Hall before marching down Government Street and are rallying at the legislature until 1:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon.
See also:
- 33 photos from Victoria students’ strike for climate change inaction this afternoon (PHOTOS/VIDEOS)
- Protest groups to host rally against Premier Horgan’s “climate crimes” in Victoria
- BC reveals new climate action plan will target vehicle emissions, create energy-efficient housing and more
“Youth in Canada understand science, and know that action on climate change must come now, for as the IPCC says we only have 10-11 years left,” said 16-year-old Emma-Jane Burian, one of the lead organizers of today’s Climate Strike in Victoria.
“We are inspired to strike because we want the right to a future. Youth want all levels of government to know that climate change is the most important issue of our time. We will continue to strike until our demands are met.”
Protestors marching down Government Street this afternoon carried various powerful signs and slogans including “Change now or Swim later” and “Cut the crap, not the trees”, to convey their message.
The National Youth Climate Strike was inspired by 16-year-old Swedish student activist Greta Thunberg who started staging the first climate change-related walkouts in front of Sweden’s parliament every Friday.
In March, thousands of students around the world marched out of their classrooms and took to the streets in an international climate strike rally to demand that our leaders take action to avoid catastrophe.
“The IPCC report states that we have 11 years to get to 40% emission reductions by 2030. The Canadian government has not even met the conservative government’s climate goals,” said 13-year-old Rebecca Wolf Gage, another leader of the strike.
“Fracking is still continuing in BC and we don’t even have a full climate plan. So if our future is doomed why do we go to school? Why don’t we try to save our future? As one of my friends says: Our future is being stolen, we are here to take it back.”
Check out these photos from today’s rally:
