Asia’s young climate activists on joining the worldwide campaign for government action on global warming

Following in the footsteps of Sweden’s Greta Thunberg, young climate activists from Tahiti to China to India are taking a stand. We speak to some of them

The next major school strike will take place on September 20, followed by a global general strike on September 27

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Zel Whiting from Australia takes part in a climate action strike. Young climate change activists across the Asia Pacific have joined a global movement demanding government action and the declaration of climate emergencies.

Published: 5:00am, 18 Jul 2019Updated: 5:54pm, 19 Jul 2019

Young climate activists around the globe have been taking to the streets recently to demand governments take action to limit climate change and declare climate emergencies. They plan to make an even bigger splash with a third global general strike this autumn.

The international school strike will begin on September 20, followed by a global general strike on September 27, according to a joint statement from several concern groups, including Fridays for Future, Youth for Climate, and Greenpeace.

Global strikes on March 15 and May 24 took place after 16-year-old Greta Thunberg planted herself in front of the Swedish parliament in August last year, handing out fliers that read: “You grown-ups do not give a s*** about my future.”

Movements have pushed almost 800 jurisdictions in 16 countries to declare climate emergencies. However, young people want more concrete action from governments. The Post spoke to activists in nine countries and regions with growing environmental movements.

1. Australia

Australia remains largely coal-powered. Meanwhile, summer temperatures continue to rise and half of the Great Barrier Reef is dead from coral bleaching, according to National Geographic.

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