“We need to act now”: School Strike 4 Climate launch comes to Sydney

By ELLIOT HEATH

This Saturday, students and young adults across the country are invited to a School Strike 4 Climate (SS4C) launch party. The event at Petersham Town Hall will focus on kicking off the #stopadani movement, which is the fight against the proposed Adani Carmichael coal mine, rail and port project.

With the labor government heading Australia’s climate action, many activists think the time to strike is now, before Australia falls further behind countries across the globe on climate targets. Reports reveal Australia’s carbon emissions were at a record high in 2021.

SS4C haven’t held back in their support for Anthony Albanese and the Labor government’s Climate Change Bill, which plans to see Australia as a net zero emissions country by 2050. The group have voiced their displeasure at the 43 percent emission decrease by 2030 policy claiming, it isn’t enough.

SS4C spokespeople Lauren and Deen say the time for climate action is now.

“We need to act now. The pathway is clear – to stay below the runaway point of 1.5 degrees of warming, we must cancel new coal projects now, and phase out coal by 2030.”

The organisation is also worried that projects such as the Adani coal mine will erase the effects of the government’s new Climate Change Bill, and is urging Albanese to stop the 69 planned coal projects.

Sydney kicks off climate protest campaign

Sydney will hold the first of four launch parties across the country to rally against the Adani coal mine. The School Strike 4 Climate organisation will be holding further protests on Saturday the 24th of September.

Sydney’s Town Hall is where SS4C hopes to see the sight of thousands of students, who are pushing the Albanese government to up the proposed 43 percent emission decrease by 2030.

SSC4 Spokesperson Ethan Lyons said whilst Albanese’s climate change bill is appreciated, it isn’t enough.

“The new Climate Change Bill is really encouraging, but a 43% reduction in emissions by 2030 isn’t enough if we want to save this planet” Lyons said.

This month’s launch party is aimed to appeal at Sydney students, kids, and young adults. It will feature an afternoon of live music performances, stories, art, and community connection.

#London has just had its hottest day in history, disrupting the lives of millions of people, causing train tracks to buckle, sparking wildfires, damaging roads and airport runways, forcing businesses to close their doors and k*lling hundreds of people. The #ClimateCrisis is here.

— School Strike 4 Climate Australia (@StrikeClimate) July 20, 2022

The event is ticketed, however, concession card holders, students, and First nations individuals will get free access to the event, but will still need to RSVP online. Anyone else looking to attend will be required to purchase a ticket, where ten percent of all sales with be donated to support the Wangan and Jagalingou people’s reoccupation of their homelands at the ongoing Waddananggu ceremony.

SSC4 also recommends that with the pandemic still ongoing, anyone thinking of going to the launch party should take a RAT test prior to the event, wear a N95 mask, and social distance throughout the event.