When around 1000 Tasmanian students left their classrooms during school hours on Thursday, they did so for a cause – one they considered to be the single biggest threat to their collective futures.
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And when they gathered on the lawns outside Parliament House in Hobart, they had a message for the nation’s politicians: not enough is being done to address climate change.
Amelie Hudspeth, a year nine student at Kingston High School, attended the School Strike 4 Climate Action event and was one of those who addressed the crowd of primary and high school students from across the state.
“We really want to see more change,” she told The Examiner. “That’s kind of the resounding message from everyone.”
“It’s our future and it’s in their hands and it’s time to act now.”
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The concept may have found its way to Tasmania – with further walkouts planned in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide on Friday – but the School Strike 4 Climate Action movement originated in Sweden with a 15-year-old student named Greta Thunberg.
All up, students in each Australian state capital and 20 regional centres will have walked out of their classrooms by the end of the week.
On Thursday, students also gathered in Cygnet for a similar action.
Australian Youth Climate Coalition schools mentor Will Boon attended the Hobart walkout and was incredibly proud of the group.
“I can’t wait to see where they go from here,” he said.
“I’m just overwhelmed and thrilled and proud.”
As the movement caught on in Australia, the AYCC provided the student organisers with assistance to ensure they could carry out the events in a safe and positive way.
“The event is entirely organised by the students though,” Mr Boon said.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison acknowledged that climate change was a “real and serious issues” but criticised the students who planned to participate.
Environment Minister Elise Archer said the Tasmanian government was a “national leader” in their response to climate change. Under the present climate action plan Tasmania is expected to be “renewable energy self-sufficient” by 2022.
Labor climate change spokesperson Ella Haddad commended the “passion and drive these young people showed to fight for real action on climate change”.
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