MORE than 100 Hunter school students participated in an online strike on Friday to demand governments take stronger action on climate change.
It was part of 40 School Strike 4 Climate Australia events held across Australia.
Dungog High students Ollie Felton-Taylor and Frey Rubeli used three decorated umbrellas to express their concerns.
Frey's father and artist Ken Rubeli applauded the students' commitment to climate action.
"It's the students' movement, and parents hover at the fringes, in awe of their communication skills and passion," Mr Rubeli said.
"You wonder if their advocacy could possibly bring about change - but since Greta Thunberg sat alone in protest outside the Swedish Parliament there has been such an awakening, such a shift in people's awareness.
"We are now on the cusp of joining the rest of the world's nations in commitment to very demanding targets that can limit climate change. It's the young people today who will live through dramatic shifts in how we generate energy and conserve resources."
Newcastle MP Sharon Claydonsaid she shared the frustrations of young Novocastrians who participated in the strike.
"We are just a couple of weeks out from the Glasgow climate summit and yet there's still no plan for Australia's climate and energy future," she said.
"While the rest of the world is implementing concrete plans to get to net zero by 2050, the Morrison Government remains embroiled in their own internal party argument about even committing to it."
