Youth Strike 4 Climate UK: Who are the protesters behind the climate strike today and how could they influence our global warming policies?

A group of next-generation activists are set to protest against climate change in London and cities across the UK today.

The Youth Strike 4 Climate will follow strike action that was taken by students in February and March.

They have been inspired by Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old climate change activist from Sweden who has been skipping school every Friday since August 2018 to lobby the Swedish government into action on global warming.

So what exactly are the demands of our students and how can clean air measures reduce the effects of global warming?

What is the Youth Strike 4 Climate?

The Youth Strike 4 Climate is organised by the UK Student Climate Network and the UK Youth Climate Coalition.

Students taking part in the strike say they are being forced into action due to an “alarming” lack of action from the Government in preventing climate change.

They are calling on the government to include young people in decision making related to global warming, to have a say in their future.

How does air pollution contribute to global warming?

Global warming is the heating of the earth’s temperature, which is generally caused by greenhouse gases. These gases are given their name because they absorb infrared radiation (heat energy) from the earth’s atmosphere and radiate it back to the earth’s surface.

Polluted air contains gases such as carbon dioxide, the most common greenhouse gas.

Emissions of carbon dioxide are mostly associated with car exhausts – and anything else that involves burning fossil fuels such as petrol.

This means that our use of petrol and diesel cars is producing greenhouse gases that are heating the earth’s temperature.

How could the Youth Strike 4 Climate help to reduce global warming and air pollution?

Inspired by Greta Thunberg, students all around the world have been taking strike action to demand governments make a change to prevent global warming.

Greta is demanding that Swedish politicians legislate to reduce carbon emissions in line with the Paris Agreement. This would reduce the effect of greenhouse gases on global warming.

In the UK, students are demanding the government declares a “state of climate emergency” and change the school curriculum to include education about the effects of climate change.

The Youth Strike 4 Climate is also asking for more influence in decision-making and for the voting age to be lowered to 16.

How can cities work to reduce air pollution?

City leaders around the world have been taking steps to reduce air pollution by cutting down cars.

Low emissions zones have been implemented in cities like Madrid and Oslo, while London is preparing for the Ultra Low Emissions Zone which will come into effect in April.

The ULEZ will impose extra charges on cars that do not meet European standards which set limits for pollutants from car emissions.

Speaking at a Clean Air Summit at the Tate Modern, Sadiq Khan pledged to double a £23 million scrappage scheme designed to help those in financial need upgrade their cars to greener options.

Mr Khan said: "We know there are children who have underdeveloped lungs, stunted lungs, which reduces their life expectancy, and so this isn't just an issue of the environment or transport, it's a public health emergency."