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Where young people all over the world marched for action on climate change

Students protest to demand action on climate change in Lisbon.
Students protest to demand action on climate change in Lisbon.
Image: Reuters/Rafael Marchante
By
Johnny Simon
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Young people skipped school and took the streets in more than 100 countries today (March 15), begging leaders for action on climate change.

Reuters reported that the protests were inspired by Greta Thunberg,  the 15-year-old Swede who has been just been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her climate activism. For the past year she has skipped school on Fridays to protested inaction on climate change in front of the Swedish parliament. The teen also had a notable appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this year, urging leaders to increase their understanding of the existential consequences of climate change. “I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. And act as if your house is on fire. Because it is,” she said.

Inspired by her example, students around the world left school and made their voices heard. Here is a selection of showcasing their energy and urgency:

Sweden

Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg and her sister Beata Thunberg participate in the "Global Strike For Future" demonstration in central Stockholm, Sweden.
Greta Thunberg and her sister Beata participate in the “Global Strike for Future” demonstration in central Stockholm.
Image: Henrik Montgomery/TT News Agency via Reuters
Protestors gather in central Stockholm.
Protestors gather in central Stockholm.
Image: Henrik Montgomery/TT News Agency via Reuters

Hong Kong

Hundreds of schoolchildren protest in Hong Kong.
Hundreds of schoolchildren protest in Hong Kong.
Image: AP Photo/Kin Cheung

India

Adults stand in solidarity with Indian students in Hyderabad, India.
Adults stand in solidarity with Indian students in Hyderabad, India.
Image: AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.
Students hold placards and banners as they participate in the climate protest in New Delhi, India.
Students hold placards and banners as they participate in the climate protest in New Delhi, India.
Image: AP Photo/Altaf Qadri

South Africa

Students make their voices heard in Cape Town, South Africa.
Students make their voices heard in Cape Town, South Africa.
Image: Reuters/Mike Hutchings
Protesting outside the Union Building in Pretoria, South Africa.
Protesting outside the Union Building in Pretoria, South Africa.
Image: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe

Austria

Demonstrators in Vienna, Austria.
Demonstrators in Vienna, Austria.
Image: Reuters/Leonhard Foeger

Germany

Students protest in Berlin.
Students protest in Berlin.
Image: AP Photo/Michael Sohn
A carnival float depicts Swedish environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg in Dusseldorf.
A carnival float depicts Swedish environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg in Dusseldorf.
Image: Reuters/Wolfgang Rattay

Italy

Students gather in front of the monument of the Unknown Soldier in Rome.
Students gather in front of the monument of the Unknown Soldier in Rome.
Image: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini
Protesters in front of the Duomo in Milan.
Protesters in front of the Duomo in Milan.
Image: AP Photo/Luca Brunp

Greece

Students shout slogans during a rally at Monastiraki square in central Athens.
Students shout slogans during a rally at Monastiraki square in central Athens.
Image: AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis

United Kingdom

Students protest in London.
Students protest in London.
Image: Reuters/Henry Nicholls
Demonstrators in Brighton, England.
Demonstrators in Brighton, England.
Image: Reuters/Peter Nicholls

Switzerland

Participants gather in Zurich, Switzerland.
Participants gather in Zurich, Switzerland.
Image: Reuters/Arnd Wiegmann
Protestors in Zurich.
Protestors in Zurich.

Belgium

Demonstrators take part in a protest against climate change in central Brussels
Protestors fill the streets in central Brussels.
Image: Reuters/Yves Herman

Portugal

Students crowd a street in Lisbon.
Students crowd a street in Lisbon.
Image: Reuters/Rafael Marchante

France

A group of demonstrators in Paris.
A group of demonstrators in Paris.
Image: Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes
Students demonstrate in Paris.
Students demonstrate in Paris.
Image: Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes
Students take part in a "youth strike to act on climate change" demonstration in Nantes
A protest in Nantes.
Image: Reuters/Stephane Mahe

Finland

Young demonstrators are seen next to the Finnish Parliment in Helsinki.
Young demonstrators are seen next to the Finnish Parliment in Helsinki.
Image: Lehtikuva/Heikki Saukkomaa via Reuters

United States

Young demonstrators join the International Youth Climate Strike event at the Capitol in Washington
Young demonstrators join the International Youth Climate Strike event at the Capitol in Washington
Image: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Students hold placards in New York.
Students hold placards in New York.
Image: Reuters/Shannon Stapleton
Demonstrating in New York.
Demonstrating in New York.
Image: Reuters/Shannon Stapleton
Students march to Market Street in San Francisco.
Students march to Market Street in San Francisco.
Image: AP Photo/Ben Margot

Australia

Thousands of students from across Sydney rally at Town Hall in Sydney.
Thousands of students from across Sydney rally at Town Hall in Sydney.
Image: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas via Reuters
Students protest in Brisbane.
Students protest in Brisbane.
Image: AAP Image/Dan Peled via Reuters
Protests in Canberra.
Protests in Canberra.
Image: AAP Image/Lukas Coch via Reuters

New Zealand

Students outside New Zealand’s parliament in Wellington.
Students outside New Zealand’s parliament in Wellington.
Image: AAP Image/Boris Jancic via Reuters

South Korea

South Korean students in central Seoul.
South Korean students in central Seoul.
Image: Reuters/Kim Hong-ji

El Salvador

Demonstrators in Suchitoto, El Salvador.
Demonstrators in Suchitoto, El Salvador.
Image: Reuters/Jose Cabezas

Brazil

Students demand global action on climate change in Sao Paolo.
Students demand global action on climate change in Sao Paolo.
Image: Reuters/Amanda Perobelli