Summary

  • Millions of people joined a global climate strike led by schoolchildren

  • "We are skipping our lessons to teach you one," one sign read

  • Global strike was sparked by campaigner Greta Thunberg, who attended a New York protest

  • Our live coverage marked the protests from Pacific islands to LA

  1. The day millions marchedpublished at 23:26 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Dozens of people demonstrate on the occasion of the global climate strike, in Sao PauloImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Dozens of people demonstrate on the occasion of the global climate strike, in Sao Paulo

    That wraps up our coverage of the wave of climate protests that began in Australia this morning before spreading across nearly every corner of the globe to the US West Coast.

    Millions of young people marched on Friday, from handfuls of demonstrators on Pacific islands to mass rallies in cities like Melbourne, Mumbai, Berlin and New York.

    The Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg, who inspired the protests, called it the biggest climate strike in history.

    Media caption,

    Climate strike: Protests in cities across the world

  2. 'My dad woke me up and said it's massive'published at 23:04 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Here's Greta Thunberg speaking to the BBC earlier today about how flabbergasted she was by the scale of the protests.

    Media caption,

    Climate activist Greta Thunberg on climate protests

  3. Climate strike swirls around US Congresspublished at 22:58 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Dikembe Wilkins
    BBC News, Washington DC

    Climate protesters have also marched across Washington DC to the US Capitol building.

    Climate protesters have also marched across Washington DC to the US Capitol building.Image source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Climate protesters have also marched across Washington DC to the US Capitol building.

    One of them was Michael Pion, who was wearing a Trump 'Make America Great Again' hat. He told the BBC: "I thought it would be funny to see how people would react to the MAGA hat and to be honest with you ultimately it wasn’t that exciting."

    He thinks it's important to pay attention to climate change so "we can avoid the ‘Mad Max’ scenario that will unfold if we don’t take some kind of action about it relatively soon".

    Michael Pion
    Image caption,

    Michael Pion

    Michael Pion
    Image caption,

    Michael Pion

    Another protester, Jane Mahon (below left), said: "I’m here today because I’m scared."

    Her friend, Leah Woods (right), said: "I think people should be here just to simply fight for our humanity."

    Jane Mahon (L) and Leah Woods
    Image caption,

    Jane Mahon (L) and Leah Woods

  4. 'United we are unstoppable'published at 22:53 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Rosie Blunt
    BBC News

    Greta Thunberg speaking in New York on 20 SeptemberImage source, Reuters

    Greta Thunberg continued her speech by talking about the UN climate action summit, which takes place in New York next week. Leaders from around the world will be attending the event.

    "The eyes of the world will be on them," she said. "We will make them hear us."

    "We are doing this to wake the leaders up. We are doing this to get them to act. We deserve a safe future and we demand a safe future. Is that really too much to ask?

    "Right now we are the ones who are making a difference. If no one else will take action then we will.

    "It should not be that way. We should not be the ones who are fighting for the future. And yet, here we are."

    She finished her speech on a powerful and optimistic note.

    "Together and united we are unstoppable.

    "This is what people power looks like. We will rise to the challenge. We will hold those most responsible for this crisis accountable and we will make the world leaders act.

    "We can and we will.

    "And if you belong to that small group of people who feel threatened by us then we have some very bad news for you.

    "Because this is only the beginning. Change is coming, whether they like it or not."

  5. Greta Thunberg scolds world leaderspublished at 22:45 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Rosie Blunt
    BBC News

    Greta Thunberg addressing the crowd in ManhattenImage source, Reuters

    Greta Thunberg's speech continues... here are some of the highlights:

    "We are striking today in over 150 countries on all continents, including Antarctica.

    "We are not in school today and this time we are not alone - we have some adults who are not at work today either. And why? Because this is an emergency. Our house is on fire. And it's not just the young people's house. We all live here, it affects all of us. We will not just stand aside and watch.

    "We are united behind the science and we will do everything in our power to stop this crisis from getting worse, even if that means skipping school or work, because this is more important.

    "Why should we study for a future that is being taken away from us? That is being stolen for profit?

    "Some people are saying we should study to become climate scientists and politicians, but by then it will be too late. We need to do this now.

    "Pay attention to the facts.

    "Nowhere have I found anyone in power who wants to tell it like it is. They leave that burden to us - us teenagers, us children."

  6. 'Sorry for our president'published at 22:42 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Luiza Vianna de Mello Franco
    BBC News, Sao Paulo

    Global Climate Strike protesters in Sao PauloImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Global Climate Strike protesters in Sao Paulo

    The young climate protesters who gathered in Avenida Paulista, in São Paulo, on Friday night had a common target: President Jair Bolsonaro.

    Almost everyone who went on stage criticised the president’s environmental policies. Some kids talked about what individuals can do to reduce their footprint on the environment.

    Vinicius Guimarães, who is 18, held a sign in English saying, "Sorry for our president".

    He told the BBC he has no links to political parties and that his motivation to show up today was the survival of his generation.

    “We have to fight now because we’re the ones who will have to deal with the consequences," he said.

    Here was President Bolsonaro's recent comments on the Amazon fires, which UN officials have described as extremely concerning for the planet’s natural life support systems,

    Media caption,

    Amazon fires: President Bolsonaro responds to criticism

  7. Thunberg cheered in New Yorkpublished at 22:30 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Rosie Blunt
    BBC News

    Greta Thunberg arrived to cheers from the audience in lower Manhattan and was introduced as "the nicest, kindest most humble person".

    "Around the world today about four million have been striking and we are still counting," she said.

    "This is the biggest climate strike ever in history and we all should be so proud of ourselves because we have done this together."

    She read out the numbers of people at each protest, including:

    Australia 350,000 people

    London 100,000

    Berlin 270,000

    Dublin 25,000

    A medic was sent to help someone in the audience, which has put her speech on hold for now.

    Greta Thunberg in New YorkImage source, Reuters
  8. Greta Thunberg, the teen climate heroinepublished at 22:23 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Ashitha Nagesh
    BBC News, London

    Greta Thunberg during an interview in New York on 20 SeptemberImage source, AFP

    Hundreds of thousands of people - and counting - have been taking to the streets today to call for action on the climate crisis.

    The catalyst for this huge movement has been Greta Thunberg - the Swedish teenager who inspired a global climate movement with her solitary protests last year. She is expected to address the crowds in New York imminently.

    Now she's arguably the most famous climate activist in the world, with a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize and a gig addressing the UN's climate summit next week.

    Her sharp words to US Congress on Thursday also helped cement her icon status. "Sorry, you're not trying hard enough" - a message echoed by many frustrated teenagers, and adults, around the world.

    Now, after a day of international demonstrations, she's getting ready to address a rally outside the UN's headquarters.

  9. So what are the adults doing?published at 22:08 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Students in the Global Climate Strike march in New York CityImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    Students in the Global Climate Strike march in New York City

    You might be tempted to ask, like the student protesters above, where are the grown-ups in the room? Why haven’t any of our world leaders sorted this out?

    Well… some of them have been trying, but it hasn’t always gone smoothly.

    One recent milestone was the 2015 Paris climate deal, which united all the world’s nations in a single agreement on tackling climate change.

    World leaders clapping after the signing of the Paris climate agreementImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    Leaders applaud the signing of the Paris climate accord in December 2015

    President Donald Trump announced two years later that he would withdraw from the deal - making the US the only country in the world to reject it.

    Nonetheless, the deal is still considered historic, with signatories committing to keeping temperatures below 2.0C (3.6F) above pre-industrial times.You can read more about what it covers here.

  10. Can Jeff Bezos quell Amazon climate strikers?published at 21:54 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Ashitha Nagesh
    BBC News, London

    Employees at Amazon headquarters in Seattle are joining today's climate strike, protesting against a crisis they say their employer has contributed to.

    Ahead of the global protests, the company's CEO – Jeff Bezos – outlined a climate pledge that would see Amazon become carbon neutral by 2040.

    But the strikers, from the group Amazon Employees for Climate Justice (AECJ), say this isn't enough.

    The group says Mr Bezos' plan to offset Amazon's carbon emissions by 2040 stops far short of its demand that the company stop using fossil fuels entirely within the next decade.

    Jeff Bezos, announcing his climate pledgesImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    Jeff Bezos' pledge to offset carbon emissions by 2040 falls short of his workers' demands

    AECJ also called for Mr Bezos to stop donating to politicians and lobbying groups that deny the existence or the extent of the climate crisis, and to stop working with oil and gas companies on the exploration of fossil fuel reserves.

    The Amazon CEO has not agreed to these two demands.

    Rebecca Sheppard is a senior product manager at Amazon and a member of AECJ.

    She told BBC Newsday earlier today: "It’s absolutely a victory, but it’s not everything that we asked for. We actually don't want to be carbon neutral, we want to be zero emissions. We don't want to rely on carbon offsets."

    You can listen to Rebecca's radio interview here.

  11. Thousands in New York Citypublished at 21:32 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Shrai Popat
    BBC News, New York City

    A rallying chant spread through the crowd: "What do we want? Climate Justice! When do want it? Now!"

    Foley Square overflowed, and a number of streets had to be closed due to the sheer number of those marching. There's a range of people, with many school students marching in groups.

    While there was excitement among those marching, there was also a sense that this collective action must spur some change.

    For many of the younger activists the stakes are too high to ignore.

    "It’s either we miss school or we miss life," says 17-year-old Phillip Austin.

    Girl with sign
    Image caption,

    Girl with sign

    Sign in New York City
    Image caption,

    Sign in New York City

    Girl with sign about plastic waster
    Image caption,

    Lots of the signs referred to plastic waste

    Organiser in New York
    Image caption,

    Organiser in New York

    Sign saying 'Sorry, I can't clean my room, I'm busy saving the world'
    Image caption,

    Humour was abundant

  12. 'I was elected to be president of Pittsburgh not Paris'published at 21:22 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Since the early days of his administration, President Trump has made it clear his priority is to create jobs and reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil by expanding drilling. He also hasn’t been shy, external about his scepticism toward renewable and alternative energy sources. “We’ve lost four years.” But activists and Obama-era officials insist it’s possible to be both pro-environment and pro-business. Nat Keohane worked in the Obama administration to help create many of the rules Trump is now rescinding. He says the lack of American leadership on climate change has not only impacted the US but the rest of the world as well.

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  13. What is President Trump's environmental record?published at 21:00 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    As protesters march across the US to demand action on climate change, the BBC’s Cut Through the Noise, external examines President Donald Trump's record on the environment and climate change.

    His administration has rolled back more than 80 environmental rules and protections.

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  14. Protest moves north next weekpublished at 20:36 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Jessica Murphy, BBC News, Toronto

    In Canada, a handful of cities are participating in the global marches on Friday, including Whitehorse, Calgary and Saint John.

    But the main event will take place at a Montreal march next week, on 27 September.

    Youth climate campaigner Greta Thunberg is also expected to attend that one.

    The largest school board in the province of Quebec - the Commission scolaire de Montréal - will give its students the day off.

    A number of universities and colleges have also cancelled at least some classes for that day.

    The event will take place during Canada's federal election campaign, where climate change is among the top policy issues for voters.

    Protesters flood the streets of Montreal during a march for climate in March 2019Image source, MARTIN OUELLET-DIOTTE/AFP/Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Protesters flood the streets of Montreal during a march for climate in March 2019

  15. Toddlers joining Brazil marchpublished at 20:24 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Paula Adamo Idoeta, BBC News, Brazil

    Climate March, BrazilImage source, Courtesy Mariana Bombonato

    In Brazil’s largest city, São Paulo, a large number of young kids are expected to attend the climate march starting at 20:00 GMT – and some of them are toddlers.

    The recent fires in the Amazon have raised environmental awareness in the country, and some parents are concerned about how to explain their concerns to small children without worrying them.

    "They are very young, so we didn’t tell them everything [about the recent climate debates]. But we are taking them to the march," said Mariana Bombonato about her daughter Manuela, two, and the other children at the parental nursery her daughter attends. They will all be at the march later on Friday.

    "We told the children that everyone would wear special T-shirts today to show their concern for the planet, and I bought Manuela a book about planet Earth. We've been talking about ways to protect the environment, and when we shower she says, 'we can’t stay long because the water belongs to the planet.'"

    Flora Monteiro, another mother from the group, says her son Bento, who turns three in two months' time, hasn’t fully understood the events planned for this Friday, "but he knows it’s a move to take care of the nature and the trees".

    "More than the environmental cause itself, I’m happy to show him that he can mobilise for whatever he believes in and have an active voice," says Monteiro.

  16. Roundup: demands for climate justice heard around the worldpublished at 20:09 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Millions took to the streets today to demand government action on climate change.

    Here's our round-up of the day.

    Media caption,

    Climate strike: Protests in cities across the world

  17. 'They are going to inherit the mess we've created'published at 19:43 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Shrai Popat
    BBC News, New York City

    Thousands have gathered in Foley Square for a march that will end in Battery City Park.

    The school district has given the city’s 1.1 million school children permission to skip school to take part in the day’s demonstrations.

    They are here to show solidarity and encourage law makers to take action and hold polluters accountable. Many parents have also accompanied their children to the march.

    Sanjay Patil, who lives in Queens, brought along some of the day’s youngest protesters: his daughters Anika, six, and Reyha, who is just one.

    Reyha's shirt - "I really do care. Why don't you?" - was a reference to a coat worn by US First Lady Melania Trump that sent social media into meltdown.

    "We want to show solidarity with all the kids striking," Patil said. He also stressed the importance of bringing his daughters to the rally. "They are going to inherit the mess we created, so they should know that everyone should be a part of the solution."

    New York climate protestImage source, Shrai Popat
    New York climate protestImage source, Shrai Popat
  18. Climate march organiser: 'This could be a tipping point'published at 19:16 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Meanwhile, in Scotland, thousands of young people have also taken part in school strikes to demand urgent action on climate change.

    One of the young people who took to the streets was 15-year-old Dylan Hamilton who helped to organise the march through Edinburgh, where more than 20,000 protesters are thought to have shown up.

    BBC Scotland News followed him as he was joined by his family, friends and thousands of others on the streets of the Scottish capital.

    Media caption,

    Climate change march organiser: 'This could be a tipping point'

  19. Canadian teens pledge not to have childrenpublished at 19:04 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Holly Honderich
    BBC News, Washington DC

    Emma LinImage source, nofuturepledge
    Image caption,

    Emma Lim

    Earlier this week, 18-year-old climate activist Emma Lim went to Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada, to publicly take the "No Future Pledge, external" - vowing not to have children until the government takes "serious action" on climate change.

    Over 2,000 Canadians have signed on to the pledge, according to the campaign's website.

    "Even though I want to have children more than almost anything - what kind of a mother would I be if I brought a baby into a world where I couldn’t make sure they were safe?" Ms Lim wrote on the site.

    Activists announce the No Future PledgeImage source, Twitter/Sophie Price
    Image caption,

    Activists announce the No Future Pledge on 16 September

    Emma-Jane Burian, 17, wrote: "I am taking this pledge because I don't want my children, or another generation to have to live in a world where their entire lives are at risk and yet there is no action".

    Ms Lim, a student at McGill University in Montreal, also launched the hashtag #NoFutureNoChildren on Twitter.

    The students are part of a growing movement of environmentalists and youth who say they will not be having children - or, like Prince Harry, limiting the number of children they do have - in order to help protect the planet.

    Media caption,

    'I’m not having children because I want to save the planet'

  20. The people fighting to help the climatepublished at 18:51 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Roland Hughes
    BBC News, London

    Our colleagues on the BBC World Service's Newsday programme have handily put together a series focusing on the people working hard to improve the world's climate.

    You can watch their videos and listen to their interviews here.