Young people and their supporters gathered in Belfast yesterday to demand our leaders take real action on climate ahead of COP26.
The city’s final school strike ahead of the Glasgow summit was a scaled back event because of Covid.
But scores still turned out to support the next generation's plea to 'uproot the system' to drastically reduce our emissions.
Anna Kernahan from Friday’s for Future Belfast told the gathered crowd: “The climate crisis does not exist in a vacuum.
“Other socio-economic crises such as racism, sexism, ableism, class equality and more amplify the climate crisis and vice versa.
“It is not just a single issue.”
She said Fridays for Future are united in their call for “reparations” to the most affected people and areas (MAPA) who are “experiencing the worst impacts of the climate crisis and are unable to adapt”.
“With both Covid, the climate and every crisis in history over exploited countries and marginalised sectors of society are systematically left behind to fend for themselves,” she added.
The 19-year-old is calling for “drastic emissions cuts” as well as vaccine equity and the cancellation of debt to help poorer countries.
“Today we will fight for a just future where no one is left behind."
Green Party NI leader Clare Bailey praised all those still striking for the climate since the pandemic struck.
She said: “Northern Ireland is a climate blaggard.
“Our climate is degrading right in front of our eyes and we are seeing no action or little action taken by policy makers and legislators.”
Ms Bailey told how “98% of Northern Ireland’s waterways failed basic good quality standards, air pollution is rife and we have ammonia levels that would put the rest of the world to shame”.
She added: “Our special areas of conservation are breaching EU directives on ammonia levels in some areas up to 400%.
“We know we have a lot to do.
“We are now in code red for humanity, not for the planet but for us, we are wiping ourselves out.
“I don’t know how much more urgent you can get than code red for humanity and yet Northern Ireland still has no specific climate legislation.
“It is the young people and your future that is most at risk.”
The rally was also supported by Extinction Rebellion, Unite the Union, People Before Profit and the SDLP.
