PHIL MAXWELL

Hundreds of school students, Trade Unionists, and unemployed workers took to the streets of Liverpool last Friday. Scientists believe the world is currently heading for more than 3C of warming, though the Paris Agreement commits them to curb temperatures to 1.5C or 2C above pre-industrial levels in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Young speakers in Liverpool made it clear that they want system change to avoid climate change. Protesters marched from St Georges Hall through the city to Derby square where speakers demanded an end to a polluting economy based on profit rather than the needs of the majority.

UK Student Climate Network said more than 200 events had been organised across the country. In London Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told young people at a rally: “You and a whole generation have brought climate change centre stage and I am absolutely delighted about that. If we’re going to sustain this planet we need to get to net zero emissions a lot, lot quicker than 2050 the government’s target.” He wants every country to sign up to the Paris Agreement, which commits signatory nations to keeping global temperatures “well below” 2.0C (3.6F) above pre-industrial times. Referring to President Donald Trump, Mr Corbyn said it was “disgraceful when you get a president of a major country like the US” who says they will walk away.

The global protests came ahead of a summit at the UN next week that will urge countries to do more to avoid the worst effects of climate change.

Around 1.4 million students took to the streets across the world back in April to urge governments to act on climate change. Fridays protest took place in 150 countries in what is believed to be the largest climate protest in history.

Protester at St Georges’ Hall. Liverpool, Friday September 20th.

Resistance. Liverpool, Friday September 20th.

Crowds gather at St Georges’ Hall. Liverpool, Friday September 20th.

Cool message at St Georges’ Hall. Liverpool, Friday September 20th.

The Sea Is Rising. Liverpool, Friday September 20th.

A rebel at St Georges’ Hall. Liverpool, Friday September 20th.

Zero Carbon. Liverpool, Friday September 20th.

No more time to waste. Liverpool, Friday September 20th.

Protect Liverpool’s Green Space. Liverpool, Friday September 20th.

System Change Not Climate Change. Liverpool, Friday September 20th.

Learn to change or learn to swim. Liverpool, Friday September 20th.

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