Thousands of schoolchildren in strike action for climate change

Cities and towns across Scotland saw pupils demanding action

Thousands of schoolchildren across Scotland have taken part in another day of strikes to demand urgent action to tackle climate change.

Events were held at locations including outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and at George Square in Glasgow.

Protests were also held in towns and cities across the country including Aberdeen, Fort William, Skelmorlie, Aboyne, Fort William, Peebles, Nairn, Stirling and Ullapool.

Ahead of the demonstrations, Holly Gillibrand, 13, from Fort William said: “I am too young to vote and we can’t wait for people my age to come into power.

“That’s why we need to strike to make our voices heard.”

Neelu Saraswatibhatla, 17, from Edinburgh, said: “Business as usual will result in climate destruction and disruption is necessary in order to force governments to take urgent action as the alternative is death.”

Evie Hylands, 15, from Glasgow, added: “This protest symbolises something greater than just a strike.

“It gives a perfect depiction of the anger of the youth, who will be most affected by the fall of mother nature, yet we always seem to be the ones whose opinions are disregarded.

“The youth is now speaking up so hear us out. We want to save our planet.”

At the SNP conference last month, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon declared a “climate emergency”, noting she had been inspired by demonstrating pupils.

She told her party’s conference: “I met some of the young climate change campaigners who’ve gone on strike from school to raise awareness of their cause.

“They want governments around the world to declare a climate emergency. They say that’s what the science tells us. And they are right.

“So today, as first minister of Scotland, I am declaring that there is a climate emergency. And Scotland will live up to our responsibility to tackle it.”

The Scottish Government has also agreed to set a target of net-zero emissions by 2045 – an aim described as the “most ambitious in the world”.

It followed recommendations from the Committee on Climate Change that Scotland meets the target five years ahead of the UK in 2050.

The climate strikes by pupils were started in August 2018 by the Swedish schoolgirl Greta Thunberg and have since been mirrored across the world.

Picture: Getty Images. Students continue to stage protests, urging the government to declare a climate emergency.

Pictures: PA. Left: Alan Blackburn with his daughter Hanna Blackburn, five, in Edinburgh. Top: A student’s message to the government: Above: Crowds gathered at Holyrood.