Christian Aid urges government to heed wake-up call from children

School strikers in London

Source: Christian Aid

Christian Aid has called on governments around the world to heed the wake-up call from children going on strike on Friday in more than a hundred countries around the world.

Following last month's UK strike, Friday sees British children joined by those from around the globe in protest at the fact the world is currently not on track to deliver the aims of the Paris Agreement.

Richard Baker, Christian Aid's Youth and Campaigns Manager, said: "Some people like to write off young people as apathetic and uninterested in politics.

"This movement puts the lie to that and shows how children and teenagers are realising the gravity and urgency of tackling climate change in ways our political leaders have so far failed to grasp.

"Climate change is sometimes described as a market failure as the market fails to capture the externalities or costs of carbon pollution. But climate change is also proving to be a 'democracy failure', as the people upon whom the suffering will fall worst are too young to vote. If they are locked out of the democratic process then campaigning in this way is one of the few ways they are able to make their voice heard. And heard they must be - but also taken seriously and acted upon.

"The phrase 'out of the mouths of babes comes wisdom' is based on the Psalms. It feels like an appropriate summary today."

The school strikers also received the backing of former Archbishop of Canterbury, and Chair of Christian Aid, Rowan Williams. In a video message posted earlier this week he said: "I believe a wide and deep support from the public is needed to bring this matter fully to the attention of our political leaders. To show we can actually achieve democratic change for the good of everybody."

More than 1.4 million young school students in more than 300 cities across all continents took part in Friday's demonstrations. More actions are planned through the year.

Watch a short film clip here: https://mediacentre.christianaid.org.uk/strongglobal-climate-school-strike-shows-democratic-deficit-of-climate-change-says-christian-aidstrong/