Students strike over climate again

New Zealand youth are demanding immediate action to halt the effects of climate change.

Sophie Handford, from the School Strike 4 Climate movement, said students are disappointed in the lack of action against climate change because they want the New Zealand Government to commit to zero carbon by 2040.

Another climate change strike is planned for next Friday because their previous strike demands had not been met.

Their previous demands included making the Zero Carbon Act legally enforceable to hold people accountable.

The student strikers hope progress towards emission targets is reported with transparency so the New Zealand public can hold the Government to account.

They also want fossil fuel extraction to stop and encourage the use of renewable and sustainable energy alternatives.

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) released a report concerning the state of our living.

The report said: “The health of ecosystems on which we and all other species depend is deteriorating more rapidly than ever. We are eroding the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide.”

With one million species at risk worldwide, New Zealand is being encouraged by Greenpeace to follow UK, Wales, and Scotland in declaring a climate emergency following the UN Biodiversity 2019 report.

The next school climate strike is taking place next Friday on the May 24 at Aotea Square.