Youth Strike 4 Climate protest to be held in Cornwall

Students and school pupils will demonstrate outside New County Hall on Friday to demand action over climate change.

It is part of a national march called Youth Strike 4 Climate, with 40 similar events taking place around the country at the same time.

The protest in Truro has been organised by young people who will target the Cornwall Council office as the symbol of local government. Their plan is to gather outside the office between 11am and 2pm.

Also in Cornwall, pupils at Cape Cornwall School in St Just, who are unable to travel up to Truro, will hold their own demonstration outside their school’s main entrance.

Truro College student Rosie Smart-Knight, 17, said: “We are demanding that the future of all following generations and species is safeguarded. I refuse to allow my generations’ epitaph to be one of passivity when faced with the greatest threat to life on earth”.

This is the first such demonstration in the UK, which has been inspired by similar actions abroad including in Australia, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany.

The group said there was “an alarming lack of government leadership on climate action over previous decades”.

Anna Taylor, a national organiser and part of the UK Student Climate Network, added: “We’ve seen the last few decades go by, characterised by missed opportunities, and a lack of leadership on climate action. We’re running out of time for meaningful change, and that’s why we’re seeing young people around the world rising up to hold their governments to account on their dismal climate records.

“Unless we take positive action, the future's looking bleak for those of us that have grown up in an era defined by climate change. We’ve had enough and we’re making sure our voice is heard. We’re ready to let politicians know we won’t accept anything less than a commitment to protect the planet for the good of everyone.”

Further details of the demonstration in Truro can be found on the Facebook event’s page here. Another strike date for the UK has been set for March 15.

Cornwall Council declares 'climate emergency'

Last month Cornwall Council declared a "climate emergency" and said it will step up efforts to tackle climate change in the county and urge the Government to do more.

There was a packed public gallery at County Hall on Tuesday (January 22) with standing room only as environmentalists and campaigners wanted to hear a debate on the matter and cheers when th emotion was passed.

Speaking after the meeting, councillor Dominic Fairman said: “After a very lively debate a cross-party amendment was accepted which went even further than the original motion. If we are to avoid the worst-case scenarios, then the social change required will be deep.

"Radical social change is uncomfortable and difficult – but I believe that as local representatives of our communities we have a responsibility to take leadership. Cornwall Council has shown that leadership today," he said.

Councillor Jayne Kirkham said: “Members voted for the amended motion, almost unanimously, to declare a climate emergency today in line with other local governments across the world covering 17.5 million people, including London and Manchester. Our ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030 and the report we will prepare to help us to do so, will put Cornwall on the front line in combating climate change.”

Cabinet Portfolio Holder for the environment Sue James added: “Climate change is already here and having effects in Cornwall, like the unprecedented rainfall causing flooding in Coverack in July 2017 and the significant late snow last year.

“We cannot compete with the power of nature with money and concrete alone. Our climate change planning has to assist communities to make appropriate and realistic plans. Scientists warn that extreme weather events will have a disproportionate toll on poor, weak and elderly people; those people this Council has set a priority to protect.

“Today’s declaration is a positive step forward in building on the work done by the Council to date on issues contributing to tackling climate change, ranging from supporting renewable energy to reducing waste, improving public transport to reduce traffic congestion, flood mitigation, rolling out energy saving LED street lighting and more. Our plans will build on these achievements and work with other Councils with similar ambitions.

“We all have a part to play in this - whether being less wasteful of food, having a meat free day a week, driving less and considering a less polluting vehicle when considering changing our cars or mending things rather than simply throwing them away."