The Kids Are on Climate Strike

September 20, 2019

Climate Strike in San Francisco | Photo by Sam Murphy

Today, youths around the world abandoned school and work to take to the streets and demand that adults treat the climate crisis with the seriousness it deserves—specifically, with immediate action, even if that action results in less economic growth in the short-term (in the long-term, it's well established that taking drastic action on climate change is about the closest thing there is to a free lunch and the only way to avoid total global economic meltdown). As the website for the climate strike puts it, "We, as a global society, are at a crossroads. We have a decision to make. Are we going to choose money or power, or are we going to choose the future?"

In the last few years, children and teenagers have become some of the most galvanizing and uncompromising leaders of the climate movement. Many of them have made it clear that they've assumed this mantle unwillingly. "This should fill you with shame," 17-year-old Jamie Margolin told the House Climate Crisis Committee two days earlier. "Youth climate activism should not exist.”

"You have to understand," 16-year-old Greta Thunberg told the House Ways and Means Committee on the same day, "this is not primarily an opportunity to create new green jobs, new businesses, or economic growth. This is, above all, an emergency. And not just any emergency. This is the biggest crisis humanity has ever faced. And we need to react accordingly."

The Global Climate Strike was held today for a reason. The UN Climate Summit, where representatives from around the world discuss their plans for tackling climate change, begins in New York City on Monday. The first-ever Youth Climate Summit is tomorrow.

But today, the kids (and their adult allies) were in the streets. Here are a few scenes from today's protests.