USA — Millions will take part in global climate strikes on the 20th and 27th of September, with communities across the country and around the world taking action during the entire “Week for Future and Climate Justice.” Led by youth climate strikers, people will walk out of school and work to join mass marches and rallies, music concerts, sit-ins and nonviolent direct action. Organizers say it is on course to be the largest-ever global mobilization for climate action, with over 6000 people in 150 countries already pledging to organize events.
“This is going to be a huge opportunity to highlight the transformational work of youth climate activists in communities across the country. America needs to hear the voices of young people being impacted by the worst effects of climate change, and be inspired to demand immediate, bold, and decisive change. This is our invitation to everyone, of every walk of life, to get involved and help us fight for our futures,” said Katie Eder, Executive Director of the Future Coalition.
In the U.S., youth strikes, coordinated by Future Coalition, including national youth-led groups including Friday’s For Future USA, U.S. Youth Climate Strike, Sunrise Movement, Zero Hour, Earth Uprising, and Extinction Rebellion Youth. With adults backing youth, communities are building and strengthening a multigenerational, multiracial movement to make this day as impactful as possible. For the first time since the youth climate strike movement began, adults will strike alongside young people to show support and solidarity.
Art, music, and song will be centered everywhere, as communities escalate the fight to stop fossil fuels projects, build just and equitable climate solutions to transition to 100% renewable energy, and hold accountable fossil fuel executives most responsible for the climate crisis.
“Climate breakdown is one of the greatest human rights issue we face. It means food supplies failing, fuel shortages, dwindling access to drinking water, and homes being swallowed by the sea. It means forced migration and worsening resource conflict. It means more frequent and ferocious natural disasters,” said May Boeve, 350.org Executive Director. “Protesting against climate breakdown is about much more than emissions and scientific metrics – it’s about building a just and sustainable world that works for all of us. The world needs a global ‘green new deal’ that tackles the root causes of inequality and the climate crisis together. We are rising up for a transformative deal based upon the principles of climate justice and universal rights for all.”
This comes as Hurricane Barry and devastating floods hit communities across the Gulf, Midwest and East Coast, as communities suffer from record-breaking heatwaves, as wildfires scorch communities from Florida, Alaska, California and beyond. While the Trump administration obliterates hard-won protections, public support and momentum for transformative action such as a Green New Deal is at an all-time high.
The UN Climate Summit will be September 23 in New York, with the weeklong movement also taking over the entire Climate Week, in New York City, across the country, and around the world.
“September 20 isn’t a goal, it’s a catalyst for future action. It’s a catalyst for the engagement of humanity in the protection of Earth. It’s a catalyst for realizing the intersectionality that the climate crisis has with almost every other issue. It’s a catalyst for the culmination of hundreds of climate activists that won’t stop fighting until the climate emergency is over,” said Xiye Bastida, youth strike leader with Fridays for Future – New York City.
Global support for the strikes and week of action has been growing with parents, academics, bakers, trade unions, doctors, farmers, caretakers, celebrities, and teachers among those joining toward September 20-27.
Escalated actions will be taking place across the country. Labor, faith, business, scientists, and more national and international workings groups are forming to support the week of action. Businesses will close their doors; unions will pass resolutions in support of strikers; scientists will join and march alongside students; and faith leaders and institutions will stand with youth strikers to fight against fossil fuel projects and massive government inaction on the part of governments.
“In the United States, communities representing every race, ethnicity, and generation are demanding real climate action from elected officials and those running for office,” said Tamara Toles O’Laughlin, 350.org North America Director. “The youth uprising is backed by millions who refuse to sit by while the Trump administration, hand-in-hand with fossil fuel executives, continues their campaign of climate denial and policy rollbacks, all while we face extreme heat waves, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. We stand with communities demanding economic transformation that works for our collective right to a sustainable, healthy, and livable future. In the lead-up to September and beyond, all of us are coming together to demand real climate leaders at the national, state and local levels hold fossil fuel companies accountable for decades of negligence and damage.”
This September’s Global Climate Strikes and Week for Future and Climate Justice come in the face of an uptick in anti-protest legislation, as climate lawsuits heat up this fall, and in the lead-up to November’s COP25.
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Contact: Thanu Yakupitiyage, 350.org, [email protected], +1 (413) 687-5160
Ben Rubin, Climate Nexus, [email protected], +1 (646) 559-8263
NOTES TO THE EDITOR:
- Future coalition website
- Parents’ letter
- 224 Academics support the brave stand of the school climate strike children
- Teachers want climate crisis training, poll shows
- Bakers, Food, and Allied Workers Union supports the Climate Strike
- Trade Union supports students climate strikes
- Green Building Store joins the Global Climate Strike
- Doctors against climate catastrophe
- Workers strike will reveal if firms really care about climate change