Schools take action on climate change this Friday

School children plan to use the gathering to tell the federal government that if it cares about children's futures "it must stop throwing money at gas and invest in renewable energy and First Nations solutions that care for country".

Four Bega district schoolchildren organised the first School Strike 4 Climate for the district in 2019, when they were in primary school.

Amalia Grace Thompson, Jada Koeck, Alina North-Andrew and Harry Haggar said they became concerned about the climate after the unseasonal Tathra fires devastation.

This caused them to research the effects of climate change and the science, which motivated them to take action.

"We have been protesting for three years. I am now in Year 7 and I have never lost interest in our future, it is important that we don't because the minute we give in is the minute our future is gone," Alina said.

"We need to stop talking about the past and start talking about the future because it doesn't matter what we have done in the past, whether it be good or bad we can't change that but we can change what we do now."

Jada said the students hoped world leaders would "wake up and do what's right, before it's too late".

"I have been striking for climate for over three years. Ever since I learned about how the world was being destroyed inside and out by humans themselves, a few friends and I began the long process of fighting for our world and future. The saddest thing is, it is now so obvious that our world is being destroyed, but people are still choosing to ignore it."

Organisers of Friday's action said schoolchildren from around Australia are "striking in solidarity to convince the federal government to protect our climate, land and water, and create thousands of new jobs by growing Australia's renewable energy sector". The School Strike on May 21 will be COVID safe, attendees are asked to keep a safe distance from each other, and stay home if they are ill.