School Strike 4 Climate Is Happening Again This Friday: Here’s All the Details

We’re here to save yo' planet.

Considering all the politics, drama and COVID-related stress that we’ve all endured over the last two years, we wouldn’t blame you for momentarily forgetting about the climate crisis.

But before we all continue crying in a foetal position about the burning planet, we’d like to give you a little PSA about what’s happening this weekend.

Thank the stars above because this Friday the School Strike 4 Climate is officially on again, so we can finally get back to saving the Earth.

The last School Strike 4 Climate was in 2019—thanks to coronavirus of course—but it feels like a damn lot longer than a year and a bit.

Now that we can finally congregate in groups again, it’s the perfect time for young Aussies to band together and put pressure on governments to do their bit to tackle climate change.

If COVID lockdowns have left you a little bit foggy on how all this started, essentially Greta Thunberg—a then-15-year-old girl from Sweden—first protested solo on 20 August 2018 by declaring she wouldn't attend school until the Swedish election, hoping it would draw attention to climate change.

She sat silently outside Swedish parliament for weeks while handing out pamphlets that read: "I am doing this because you adults are s***ting on my future."

Since Thunberg's actions, youth strikes have been organised in more than 100 countries across the world, including Australia.

Unfortunately, this year’s budget had a severe lack of climate policy or promises for change.

In fact, the federal government made no commitments to net zero emissions by 2050 and what little money is going to the environment will only be spent on conservation.

Thanks @KetanJ0! Sums it up nicely for those not paying attention today. #climate #fossilfuels #auspol #Budget2021 pic.twitter.com/blEUH9Xwbr

— Blair Palese 🌎 (@blairpalese) May 11, 2021

So, if that info makes your blood boil just a bit, you might wanna get your placard boards ready.

On Friday 21 May, each capital city around Australia will host a strike, and even if you’re not particularly fussed about the environment or don’t know a tonne about Aussie politics, you should probs still attend.

Not only will it give you the opportunity to learn more about why the climate crisis is such a serious issue, but it may even shed a little bit of light on why Gen Z is so disappointed with the lack of government intervention on this issue.

Plus, it’s not just going to be your classmates and teachers attending this year. Over 257+ businesses have already signed up for the events, including boss toilet paper brand Who Gives A Crap, and amazing design platform Canva.

So, if you wanna show up for the Earth this weekend, here are all the capital locations and times:

• Sydney: 12pm at Town Hall
• Melbourne: 1pm Treasury Gardens
• Brisbane: 1pm at King George Square
• Adelaide: 9:30am at Victoria Square
• Perth: 12pm at Stirling Gardens
• Darwin: 1pm at The Parliament House
• Canberra: 11am at Glebe Park
• Hobart: 12pm at Parliament Lawns

Just one last thing before you get preped. Make sure to keep up to date with all COVID related guidlines and restrictions in your state, and regardless of specific rules, make sure you wear a mask, use hand sanitiser and practice physical distancing where you can.

Catch you there!

Header Image: Jenny Evans via Getty Images