YouthStrike4Climate York

Amelia Barber shares the reasons behind why young people in York will be protesting on Friday 18th October and why you should too.

YouthStrike4Climate protests on Coney Street, York.

Young people from across York will be protesting about the lack of government action to combat our climate crisis on Friday 18th October, 12:30-3:00pm. There will be a mass demonstration at St Helen’s Square where there will be speakers and performances to highlight the problems and how we can take further direct action to combat the climate crisis.

The UK Student Climate Network says:

“Young people across the world have been excluded from participating in the fight against the climate crisis. In the UK and globally, we are already facing the devastating effects of the climate crisis. Where the older generations have failed us, we have been left with no choice but to take direct action to fight for Climate Justice.”

It is evident from last month’s global strike that walking out of school creates a widespread and significant reaction from important people, including adults who hold the power, that has not been seen in any grassroots climate movement in such a short period of time. We must continue to protest and fight for our future as it has proved to inspire young people who might not have been previously involved whilst also stirring a significant amount of media and government attention.

Listed below are 10 reasons, given by the UK Student Climate Network, detailing why striking to combat the ecological crisis that is being handed to us is vital to protect our futures:

1. UN climate report 2018 gives us 12 years to cut emissions by 50% to avoid catastrophe.

2. 10% of the world’s population will be climate refugees by 2050, with rising sea levels and crop failure.

3. We’re the first generation to know what we’re doing and the last generation to be able to stop it.

4. Just 100 companies are responsible for over 70% of the greenhouse gas emissions on the planet.

5. Our carbon emissions continue to go up, despite global government pledges.

6. 200 species go extinct every day, 1000 times the natural rate.

7. A rubbish truck of plastic is dumped into the ocean every single minute.

8. We’re in an emergency, we need unprecedented global action.

9. By 2048, there will be no fish left in our oceans at the current rate of overfishing and pollution.

10. Young people, with more of their life ahead of them, have the most to lose from an unsafe future.

YouthStrike4Climate protests at St. Helen’s square, York.

These 10 reasons are just some examples of why young people in York are choosing to strike this Friday. We are joining with young people from over 170 different countries to fight for our future. Our leaders have failed us, and we believe it is necessary to speak up and show solidarity to the cause.

About the author: Amelia Barber (16) is student in York and feel exceedingly passionate about the climate crisis. Through Greta’s movement, she has gained the confidence to organise the strikes and is eager to make a difference in the catastrophe, which is Global Warming.