Wānaka students will take part in a Global Climate Strike at Lismore Park tomorrow (Friday March 3) at 3.15pm.

Members of Te Kura O Tititea Mt Aspiring College’s student sustainability committee have organised the local climate action.

“Climate Change is here, it affects us all and time is running out,” they said.

The local students will add their voices to these national demands in response to climate change: no new mines/fossil fuels; E-bike subsidies (to change the national conversation around transport); double marine protection; lower the voting age to 16; and fund farmers to transition to regenerative agriculture.

Wao founder Monique Kelly told the Wānaka App this summer’s weather has highlighted that it’s crucial we take action now to reduce emissions.

“The consequences of inaction are more intense and frequent weather events like we've seen on the East Coast, Coromandal, Auckland and Northland. 

“We would invite the whole community to come out in solidarity for those that have lost homes and businesses up North and to support the courageous leadership of our young people going out of their comfort zone to take action to highlight the issues they want to see addressed. 

“We need to make sure that our youth feel supported and that we are not leaving the problem up to them to solve,” she said.

The international School Strike for Climate movement began with school students skipping Friday classes to participate in demonstrations to demand action from political leaders to  prevent climate change and to transition to renewable energy.

Local students will meet at Lismore Park after school (3.15pm) tomorrow.