Youth-led climate protests across Europe

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Author (Corporate)
Publication Date June 2019
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Summary:

Since August 2018, many young people across the world had been protesting against their respective governments' climate policies.

Further information:

Youth strikes for climate had gathered pupils and students in the streets worldwide, since August 2018, when Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old student, initiated the movement in Sweden. The movement became known as "Fridays for Future" as demonstrations took place on Fridays during school hours. The movement demanded their governments to take action to limit global warming under the 1.5 degree Celsius limit specified in the UN's Paris climate agreement. To reach this target, the demonstrators proposed different solutions depending on the countries, but introducing taxes on carbon emissions and putting and end to fossil energy subsidies were often quoted in their demands. Scientists gave their backing to the climate strikes.

On 15 March 2019, the Global Climate Strike for Future gathered more than one million strikers. A second Global Climate Strike was held on 24 May 2019 which was timed to coincide with the 2019 European Parliament election campaign.

The biggest climate mobilization took place from 20 September 2019 to 27 September 2019. Majors demonstrations were organised three days before the UN Climate Summit held during the UN General Assembly 2019. Millions of people around the world have attended the Global Climate Strike also known as the Global Week for Future demanding urgent action to tackle global heating and for "an end to the age of fossil fuels and climate justice for everyone". More than 6,100 events were held in 185 countries.

Another prominent proponent for urgent action is Extinction Rebellion, who demanded governments declare a climate and ecological emergency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025. On 7 October 2019, they started to protest in 60 cities around the world and planed to do 2 weeks of action and resistance. They blocked several cities in order to urge politicians to do more to protect the climate.

Related Links
Commentary and Analysis
BBC News, 14/02/2019: Greta Thunberg: The Swedish teen inspiring climate strikes https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-47231271/greta-thunberg-the-swedish-teen-inspiring-climate-strikes
Euro|Topics, 14/03/2019: Scientists back pupils' strike for the climate https://www.eurotopics.net/en/216515/scientists-back-pupils-strike-for-the-climate
Euro|Topics, 15/03/2019: Climate protection: can the young take charge? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/213857/climate-protection-can-the-young-take-charge?zitat=216584#zitat216584
Politico, 18/04/2019: Climate icon Greta Thunberg finds that political change is ‘complicated’ https://www.politico.eu/article/global-climate-icon-finds-that-political-change-is-complicated/
The Spectator, 19/04/2019: The Extinction Rebellion protests are targeting the wrong country https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2019/04/the-extinction-rebellion-protests-are-targeting-the-wrong-country/
The New Federalist, 24/04/2019: Fridays for Future – When politics fail https://www.thenewfederalist.eu/fridays-for-future-when-politics-fail
Quartz, 01/05/2019: Extinction Rebellion succeeded where most climate protests fail https://qz.com/1608619/extinction-rebellion-succeeded-where-most-climate-protests-fail/
Politico, 08/05/2019: Europe’s East-West divide is back, this time over climate policy https://www.politico.eu/article/climate-protest-europe-policy/
The Irish Times, 15/06/2019: Extinction Rebellion: Inside the Irish branch of the movement https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/extinction-rebellion-inside-the-irish-branch-of-the-movement-1.3924765
Deutsche Welle, 21/06/2019: 'Fridays for Future': What next? https://p.dw.com/p/3KpG7
Euro|topics, 27/09/2019: Greta's tirade at the UN Climate Summit https://www.eurotopics.net/en/227462/greta-s-tirade-at-the-un-climate-summit?zitat=227643#zitat227643
Wikipedia: September 2019 climate strikes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_2019_climate_strikes
Euractiv, 08/10/2019: Climate activists to block European cities for the week https://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-environment/news/climate-activists-to-block-european-cities-for-the-week/
The Guardian, 07/10/2019: Thanks to Extinction Rebellion, we’re experiencing a climate culture change https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/oct/07/extinction-rebellion-climate-change-deniers
The Guardian, 08/10/2019: What are Extinction Rebellion's key demands? https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/08/what-are-extinction-rebellion-key-demands-climate-emergency

News
BBC News, 07/09/2018: Swedish Teen's Climate Protest https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06kk7hb
Politico, 12/03/2019: Climate fight takes to the streets https://www.politico.eu/article/climate-change-fight-takes-to-the-streets-greta-thunberg/
Politico, 15/03/2019: Climate strikes sweep Europe https://www.politico.eu/article/climate-strikes-sweep-europe/
EurActiv, 15/03/2019: The Brief – Lessons from a 16-year old girl https://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-environment/news/the-brief-lessons-from-a-16-year-old-girl/
Deutsche Welle, 08/04/2019: Fridays for Future announces ambitious climate goals for Germany https://p.dw.com/p/3GSlV
BBC News, 18/04/2019: Extinction Rebellion challenged over climate change protests https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-47974784/extinction-rebellion-challenged-over-climate-change-protests
BBC News, 25/04/2019: Extinction Rebellion Protests: What happened? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-48051776
EurActiv, 21/05/2019: Youth spell out five demands to tackle climate breakdown https://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-environment/opinion/youth-spell-out-five-demands-to-tackle-climate-breakdown/
BBC News, 24/05/2019: School strike for climate: Protests staged around the world https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-48392551
Euronews, 31/05/2019: Climate protesters Extinction Rebellion threaten to shut down Europe's busiest airport https://www.euronews.com/2019/05/31/climate-protesters-extinction-rebellion-threaten-to-shut-down-europe-s-busiest-airport
Euronews, 16/04/2019: More than 200 arrests as climate activists occupy London landmarks https://www.euronews.com/2019/04/16/more-than-120-arrests-as-climate-activists-occupy-london-landmarks
France 24, 20/09/2019: 'The earth is on fire': Young people lead global climate change protests https://www.france24.com/en/20190920-australia-global-climate-strike-greta-thunberg-united-nations-youth-summit
The Guardian, 21/09/2019: Across the globe, millions join biggest climate protest ever https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/sep/21/across-the-globe-millions-join-biggest-climate-protest-ever
Euronews, 27/09/2019: Climate activists call for change in wave of global demonstrations https://www.euronews.com/2019/09/27/watch-live-latest-fridays-for-future-climate-protests-kick-off-in-europe
BBC News, 07/10/2019: Extinction Rebellion: Worldwide demonstrations and arrests https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-asia-49959234/extinction-rebellion-worldwide-demonstrations-and-arrests?intlink_from_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Ftopics%2Fc344m14wgy7t%2Fextinction-rebellion&link_location=live-reporting-map
Euronews, 07/10/2019: Hundreds arrested in Extinction Rebellion disruptive action across Europe https://www.euronews.com/2019/10/07/extinction-rebellion-dozens-of-arrests-at-london-and-amsterdam-protests
Reuters, 07/10/2019: 'Sorry, this is an emergency': Climate protesters block streets around the world https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-protests/sorry-this-is-an-emergency-climate-protesters-block-streets-around-world-idUKKBN1WM1JP
BBC News, 15/10/2019: Extinction Rebellion: Police ban London protests https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50051279
DeutscheWelle, 17/10/2019: Living Planet: Weeks of Extinction Rebellion protests https://www.dw.com/en/living-planet-weeks-of-extinction-rebellion-protests/av-50867073

Official
European Commission: Paris Agreement https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/international/negotiations/paris_en
Fridays for Future: About #FridaysForFuture https://www.fridaysforfuture.org/about
Extinction Rebellion: Our Demands https://rebellion.earth/the-truth/demands/
Global Climate Strike: 20-27 September 2019 https://globalclimatestrike.net/

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