Tens of thousands of mostly students have taken to the streets of Australia and other Asia-Pacific countries as a day of worldwide demonstrations against climate change gets underway.
Millions of people around the world are expected to take part in what could be the largest climate protest in history. British students are preparing to walk out of lessons and lectures and adults are being encouraged to join them as they strike.
Protests inspired by the teenage Swedish activist Greta Thunberg are planned in around 150 countries as people demand world leaders take immediate action to limit the harmful effects of manmade climate change ahead of a environmental summit at the United Nations in New York on Monday, as the UN General Assembly opens.
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Hello and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of what could be the largest worldwide climate protest in history.
Thousands have already joined demonstrations in Australia, the world's largest exporter of coal and liquid natural gas, to call on their government to curb greenhouse gas emissions:
Global climate strike begins as millions expected to hit streets
British students preparing to walk out of lessons and lectures with adults being encouraged to join protestsThe Global Strike 4 Climate said protests will be staged in 110 towns and cities across Australia on Friday, with organisers demanding government and business commit to a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
Australia's acting prime minister described the ongoing climate rallies as "just a disruption" that should have been held on a weekend to avoid inconveniencing communities.
Australia's acting prime minister described the ongoing climate rallies as "just a disruption" that should have been held on a weekend to avoid inconveniencing communities.
Michael McCormack said students would learn more at school than at protests.
Organisers estimate more than 300,000 protesters have taken to Australian streets in climate action rallies in what would be the largest demonstrations the country has seen since the Iraq war.
School Strike 4 Climate said in a statement 265,000 protesters turned out at demonstrations in seven cities alone. The largest crowd was an estimated 100,000 in Melbourne and 80,000 in Sydney.
Organisers put the crowd in Brisbane at 30,000, while police estimated 12,000. Organisers said 15,000 rallied in Canberra, but police said 7,000. Australian police have a reputation for underestimating by half crowd number at protests.
Here are some videos and photos from social media showing the scale of the climate change protests in Australia:
Nick Gibb, the schools minister, said the government "shares young people's passion" for tackling climate change, but said children should not miss school to protest.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said schools need to record the absences.
He said: "We share the passion, as a government, of young people for tackling climate change, and that is why this government and this country is committed to reaching net zero greenhouse gasses by 2050."
He added: "We don't think it should be at the expense of a child's education because what we want is for the next generation to be as well educated as possible to tackle these kinds of problems, and you don't do that by missing out on an education."
He said even missing out on one day of school can affect GCSE results.
Hundreds of people have marched in the streets of Thailand's capital to demand the government take measures to deal with the climate change crisis.
An organiser said about 250 people, mostly children with their parents, took part in the protest in Bangkok. Many were Westerners.
The organiser, 21-year-old Nanticha Ocharoenchai, said the demonstrators stopped at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to submit an open letter demanding the government declare a climate emergency, ban coal energy by 2025 and completely replace fossil fuel energy with renewable energy by 2040.
The protesters staged a "die-in" outside the ministry to dramatise their concerns, lying down on the pavement with many clutching home-made signs with slogans such as "Clean air is our right".
A government minister has said he cannot endorse children leaving school to take part in the climate strikes.
Kwasi Kwarteng, minister for business, energy and clean growth told BBC Breakfast he supported the "energy and creativity" of students but said time spent in school was "incredibly important".
When asked if the government was listening to the young protesters he added: "Their voices are being heard.
"What I do support is their energy, their creativity, and the fact that they have completely mastered these issues and take them very seriously.
"I am not going to endorse people leaving school because I think education, time spent in school is incredibly important."
Dozens of students and environmental activists gathered at a rally in India's capital.
The demonstrators assembled outside India's Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in New Delhi.
They chanted slogans like "We want climate action" and "I want to breathe clean". They also carried banners with some displaying messages like "There is no earth B" and "Eco, not ego!"
Aman Sharma, a 16-year-old protester, said: "We need to reclaim our constitutional right to clean air and water."
An Extinction Rebellion Universities protest in London has been moved on from the Strand by police, writes Phoebe Weston, who is reporting from the protest in London today.
Those who remained at the Strand faced the risk of arrest, according to a police warning handing to demonstrators.
The protesters were walking towards Millbank to join other climate protesters.
The protesters were walking towards Millbank to join other climate protesters.
Tweeting a photo from the climate strike in London, Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, said:
Extinction Rebellion UK, which has held numerous climate and environment protests around the UK this year, said it "stands in solidarity" with the young climate strikers.
The group said many of its members were joining the strikes and holding their own events, including a choir and "kids' space" in Victoria Tower Gardens, Westminster, and claiming the streets outside King's College London as part of freshers' week rebellion events.
XR Universities - an Extinction Rebellion group - has called for an overhaul of degrees so that they address the impact of climate change. UK universities must take immediate action in response to the climate crisis, the group said.
The protests have been inspired by the 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who urged US senators to learn from the sacrifices of Martin Luther King and other civil rights activists in the fight against climate change:
Greta Thunberg: I have a dream that the powerful will take the climate crisis seriously
In a highly anticipated speech in Congress after travelling half the way across the Atlantic by boat, Greta Thunberg urges US senators to learn from the sacrifices of Martin Luther King and other civil rights activists in the fight against climate change. Here is the transcriptAt 1pm, the student strikers are planning to let off alarm clocks across the UK, and are encouraging businesses to set off their fire alarms at the same time in support.
Jake Woodier, campaign co-ordinator at UK Student Climate Network said: "Young people across the world have taken the lead in highlighting the need for urgent climate action over the past year.
"They are calling for adults to join them for the Global Climate Strike, just three days before the UN climate action summit to pressure our governments to act to tackle the climate crisis.
"Raise The Alarm will help draw attention to the climate emergency in workplaces across the breadth of the UK.
"We understand it's simply not feasible for many employees to take a day off to participate in a strike, but that doesn't mean they can't have a voice.
"By hosting their fire drills at 1pm on 20 September, working adults have the chance to demonstrate their concern about climate change."
Thousands of people are marching around Parliament Square before heading on to Millbank, Phoebe Weston writes.
It is already starting to get hot and there is a huge amount of energy from young people chanting "this is what democracy looks like" and "climate justice now".
It is already starting to get hot and there is a huge amount of energy from young people chanting "this is what democracy looks like" and "climate justice now".
Friends of the Earth have someone dressed up as "the statue of taking liberties":
A medical student from Extinction Rebellion Universities has explained her reasons for joining the strike, she wants more education on climate change for students and members of the public:
The protest at Millbank is packed with people of all ages, Phoebe Weston reports.
There are people from all types of organisations - unions, charities, migrant groups. The atmosphere was positive, feeling a bit like a festival with serious undertones.
Quite a few posters were on display supporting the Amazon.
Friends of the Earth campaigner Aaron Kiely tells Phoebe Weston the government is "letting us down" on climate action:
Dozens of Filipino activists have marched in Manila to honour the memory of activists in the Philippines who were killed for defending the environment.
They marched to the offices of the Environment and Natural Resources Department, then staged a die-in protest while holding a banner saying 'Stop the killings. Defend the environment defenders now!"
The group Global Witness said the Philippines had the highest number of killings of environmental defenders of any country in 2018, with at least 30 murdered.
A separate rally organised by various student groups gathered in the afternoon at the state university. Hundreds participated as each of the students bunched together to hold up placards forming an image of the earth, with a big sign that said: "There is no Planet B."
The Metropolitan Police said two people had been arrested for breaching conditions imposed on the protesters which dictate they must gather in a specific place in Westminster.
In a tweet from the MPS Events account, the force said:
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