CLIMATE emergency protesters will unite in the town centre tomorrow to take part in the biggest global climate strike yet.
A number of organisations are taking to the streets to add their voices to the Youth Strike 4 Climate movement inspired by Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg.
The strike will include young people and adults from Rugby Extinction Rebellion and UK Student Climate Network as part of a global effort to accelerate action against climate change.
A number of parents have also arranged to take their children out of school for the event.
A spokesperson said: “UK Student Climate Network is calling on everyone – adults, workers, community groups, trade unionists, nurses, teachers, steel workers, car manufacturers, waiters and everyone else in between – to join us in a global general climate strike.
“Join us in Rugby and let’s make this the largest climate mobilisation the town has ever seen.”
Albert Street-based charity Practical Action will be joining the strike.
A spokeswoman said: “Staff will be attending the strikes as they already see how climate change is destroying lives in the vulnerable communities they work with around the world every day.
“Climate change adaptation must happen now. It is not keeping pace with the scale of climate change and its irreversible impact.
“If we want to build a future that works for everyone, the poorest and most vulnerable need our help to adapt and become resilient to climate change now.
“Changing climates mean the way we produce food must change dramatically if we are to feed everyone on the planet.”
Protests will take place across the world during work and school hours to demonstrate the urgency for action, ahead of Monday’s (September 23) UN emergency climate action summit in New York.
Although the UK central government recently declared a climate emergency, protesters are demanding it raises its 2050 target for net-zero carbon emissions, to lower the voting age, and for changes to the school curriculum to include climate change lessons.
The protest – expected to be the biggest yet – also follows recent global attention to fires tearing through the Amazon rainforest which scientists say could impact rainfall and consequently agriculture on the continent.
The protest in Rugby will take place outside the Town Hall from 10am until 2pm. Click here for more information.
