Backing for pupils in climate walkouts

Scotland’s largest teaching union is urging local authorities not to punish pupils who take part in youth climate strikes today.

Youngsters are taking part in more than 150 demonstrations around the UK calling for action on climate change as part of a global movement inspired by teenage activist Greta Thunberg.

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) has written to Scotland’s 32 local authorities urging them to respect pupils’ rights to take part in the action.

Edinburgh City Council has announced pupils will only be authorised to miss school to go on climate strikes once a year, saying regularly missing school could affect their education.

In the letter, EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “Whilst the EIS is not encouraging pupils/students to participate in anti-climate change strikes, we recognise that many will do so.

“We believe that their right to do so should be respected and that participants should not be sanctioned or punished as a consequence.

“If we are to encourage our pupils to be confident individuals that effectively contribute to society on global themes including sustainability, we shouldn’t seek to punish them when they campaign for global sustainability.”

Today, there will be marches in Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as demonstrations in many other locations around Scotland including Inverness, Fort William and Lerwick.

Oxfam Scotland said reducing emissions quickly in the next 10 years is essential to help prevent the climate emergency from becoming a “global climate catastrophe”.

Jamie Livingstone, head of Oxfam Scotland, said: “From the surge in support for Greta Thunberg to the global school strike movement, it is inspiring to see the next generation demand urgent and sustained action on the climate crisis.”

Climate protest at Holyrood.