Parts of Sydney's CBD will be locked down to traffic on Friday as students take to the streets to protest against inaction on climate change. Park Street will be closed between George and Elizabeth streets from 1pm, while parts of Elizabeth, Castlereagh, Pitt and Druitt streets will also be closed. Thousands of students protested in Martin Place regarding climate change policy in November last year, and will gather again in Sydney on Friday. Credit:Nick Moir "Traffic is expected to be heavier than usual on nearby roads including Market Street, King Street, College Street and Macquarie Street," the Transport Management Centre said. The protest gathering will begin at noon at Sydney Town Hall before the march starts about 1.15pm, moving to Hyde Park.<doc-sep>Some of Sydney's most exclusive private schools are throwing their support behind students choosing to attend today's climate change rally, with some pupils encouraged to "become the changes they seek to see in the world". Key points: Thousands of students are expected to attend the climate change rallies in Sydney and across the country Thousands of students are expected to attend the climate change rallies in Sydney and across the country Despite the support from some private schools, the NSW Department of Education says all students are expected to be in class Despite the support from some private schools, the NSW Department of Education says all students are expected to be in class It says "unexplained absences" could be subject to disciplinary action The event, which is being held at Sydney's Town Hall today, is expected to be one of the largest rallies in the nation, with thousands of students registered to attend. The planned rally has sparked controversy, with one conservative commentator yesterday telling the ABC some students were "barely literate or numerate" and victims of "politically correct teaching". Meanwhile, NSW Labor Michael Daley encouraged students on Wednesday to skip school and attend. At Barker College, an exclusive Upper North Shore Anglican school, headmaster Phillip Heath said about 40 of the school's global studies students, members of the school sustainability group Footprint, and two staff members would be attending. "As a school we are supportive of providing for student voices and [we] support their passion about policies and decision-making," he said in a statement. "We have encouraged all of our students to foster vision and not blame, to become the changes they seek to see in the world. "It is student-led change — global issues considered from a local perspective. "How can I refuse to support them?" The Footprint group at Barker College ( Barker College Tara Anglican School for Girls in North Parramatta and the Catholic Santa Sabina College were also sending contingents to the rally. St Andrews Cathedral School said Year 10 to 12 students were able to attend if they had parental permission. It said Year 7 to 9 students could go with their parents. At Mosman's Queenwood School, principal Elizabeth Stone said she was pleased to see students getting involved but felt the protest had become more about missing school. "Young people should be politically aware and I'm delighted to see them speaking up about their future, but scheduling the protest on a weekday was a tactical error," she said. "I don't like students missing school, but we've also seen that it allows sceptics to say these young people are not serious. "We should be taking them seriously, and if the protest had been on the weekend, the debate would have been about climate change, not school attendance." Cranbrook School in the Sydney harbourside suburb of Bellevue Hill said while it "encourages breadth of thinking" and assisted students to determine and share their thoughts and understanding of a range of important issues of public interest, "standard school attendance policies applied for all dates within the school term, including tomorrow". Schools students across the country are planning to strike. ( Supplied The Department of Education said all students at government schools were expected to be in the classroom. "Any student not in class will be marked absent," a spokesman said. "And unexplained absences may be subject to the school's disciplinary code." But a number of schools such as Fort Street High School and Newtown High School of the Performing Arts in Sydney's inner west sent out permission slips for parents to allow their children to leave school early. Danielle Villafaña-Pore, a 15-year-old student at Fort Street, is set to speak at the rally. "I think climate change is the single-greatest threat to our generation and the generations before us," she said. "And I see it as something that I owe the future generations too because I can't tell my kids that I stayed silent. "We needed permission from our parents, of course. We can't just have our parents not know where we are and that was really the only permission we needed. "Just so our parents know that we're safe." Feel passionately but don't strike, Premier says Premier Gladys Berejiklian criticised Opposition Leader Michael Daley, who has backed school kids planning to protest. "I encourage young people to feel passionately about important issues including climate change," she said. "But to suggest that they should strike during school hours is grossly irresponsible. I want to encourage students during school hours to express their views, to discuss their views in the classroom or the playground. "But to take time off to go to a protest is not acceptable. "And I was quite taken aback and shocked that the Leader of the Opposition thinks that's appropriate." Mr Daley stood by his comments yesterday. "I'm not encouraging children to skip school," he said. "If they, with the permission of their parents, want to show some leadership and have their say on this most important of issues, then I think it's a good thing for them to do it." Ruby Walker, 16, from Inverell High School, said she was passionate about environmental issues that had affected her local area. "A lot of the farmers are really struggling, and where I am, Tingha had some really bad bushfires," she said, adding that one of her friend's houses burnt down. "The recent fish kills in the Murray-Darling have only made me more passionate about wanting to strike. "It's our democratic right to protest and have what we're saying heard — if they discipline us it's only going to make us want to do it more."<doc-sep>A massive crowd of students has gathered in the Sydney CBD to rally against climate change inaction, with protesters overflowing from Town Hall to the next block. "We may not have a vote but we have a voice ... and we say climate action now," student speakers told thousands gathered at the Town Hall in the "School Strike 4 Climate" on Friday afternoon. Thousands of school students attend the global climate strike rally at Town Hall in Sydney. Credit:Janie Barrett "We're sick of being ignored, we're sick of our futures being turned into political footballs. "We are striking in every capital city and 40 regional towns and it's not just in Australia, our movement is global, [students in] over 100 countries are striking."<doc-sep>Students across Sydney have taken part in a day of global action with more than 90 countries participating, calling for more action on climate change. The students - many wearing their uniforms - held signs with slogans such as ‘Scomo stop fracking with my future’ and ‘Make earth cool again’. Thousands of Sydney students have cut class to call for more action on climate change. Thousands of Sydney students have cut class school to call for more action on climate change. Police were directing pedestrians on the corner of George and Park St in the city to stop the build up of traffic caused by climate protestors. City businesses faced "considerable disruption" with the student strike rallies in the heart of the CBD. City businesses faced “considerable disruption” with the student strike rallies in the heart of the CBD, with warnings from the Transport Management Centre about street closures and buses being diverted. The student strike rally in the heart of the CBD. Picture: Mick Tsikas ‘There is no plan-et B’ Picture:Mick Tsikas Thousands of school students from across Sydney attend the global #ClimateStrike rally at Town Hall Picture: Mick Tsikas NSW Business Chamber director of policy and advocacy Chris Lamont said that while they understood climate change was an important issue, “students would make a greater a contribution by spending the day at school learning about measures on how to address climate change”. The worldwide strike demands urgent political action on climate change. Picture: Dean Lewins Police directing pedestrians on the corner of George and Park St in the city to stop the build up of traffic. “The closure of streets in the middle of the Sydney CBD will potentially cause considerable disruption for workers and businesses alike,” he said. Advice from the Transport Management Centre said the march was planned to leave Town Hall at 1:15pm, and will travel along Park Street to Hyde Park. “Due to the road closures, some buses will be diverting from their usual routes,” the TMC said. Uniformed school students attended the rally. Picture: Dean Lewins #ClimateStrike rally protester’s placard #ClimateStrike rally protesters today. Picture: Mick Tsikas “Roads are planned to start closing from 1pm and reopen by 3pm.” Park Street will be closed between George Street and Elizabeth Street, along with parts of Elizabeth Street, Castlereagh Street, Pitt Street and Druitt Street. Sydney #ClimateStrike rally protester “Traffic is expected to be heavier than usual on nearby roads including Market Street, King Street, College Street and Macquarie Street so avoid driving in this part of the CBD while the closures are in place. “Anyone catching public transport is advised to allow extra travel time and plan ahead.” Today’s countrywide mass protest comes months after students first turned their back on the classroom in the name of climate action, a move condemned by the prime minister. However, this time the Australian students are taking part in a day of global action with more than 90 countries participating. The students have also found support from universities, unions, students groups, parents, the Greens and NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley. Victorian high school student Milou Albrecht was central to organising the strikes and says she will be taking to the streets out of fear of not having a safe future. “We don’t want to strike,” the 14-year-old told AAP. “We love learning, that’s important for them to know.” The students have three demands: stop the Adani coal mine in central Queensland, no new coal or gas, and 100 per cent renewables by 2030. Alongside the protest, the Greens on Friday announced a $2.2 billion household battery storage policy, which would provide up to $7000 of incentives per battery. Small businesses could also get loans of up to $15,000 to help install battery storage. Greens senator Nick McKim says the students should get a “giant pat on the back”. “Their future is being stolen from them in brazen daylight robbery by the major political parties,” he told Sky News. Sydney student protest for political action on climate change. Picture: Mick Tsikas Hundreds of thousands of students are expected to strike worldwide demanding urgent political action on climate change. Picture: Mick Tsikas “(They are) saying to those of us currently in power: enough is enough, pull your fingers out and get serious about climate change.” More than 800 academics have also signed an open letter in solidarity with the striking students, with some even set to join in on protests on Friday. Milou and her friend Harriet O’Shea Carre were inspired by Swedish teen Greta Thunberg, who has been striking for climate action since last August. Harriet hopes the prime minister calls a climate emergency and says she will feel terrible if he again condemns their actions. “It’s totally unfair considering they have been representing (voters) with the expectations they will do what’s in the best interests of the country,” she said. “They are letting us down every single day they don’t do that.” While thousands protest for action on climate change some students are taking it as a day off. In a pool hall in the city there are more than 10 students playing pool, more than 12 in the Internet cafe playing Fortnite and more chatting outside fast food restaurants. “It is affectively ‘truancy’,” said one young school student who was playing pool. “We went there and then came here (five minutes after it had started).” A policeman on the street could be overheard saying: “I have no comment but if I were to comment I would say they should be at school.” Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore addressed the crowd said as a former teacher she said protesting was more important than school. “I want to say I support your strike, I support your strike and the strike of students around the globe,” she said. “I support your strike as a former teacher because knowing the importance of education but knowing your future and the future of the planet it more important. “You are concerned you are fearful and you are angry. Student protestors today.<doc-sep>
Thousands of NSW students have skipped class to attend a protest in Sydney to call for action on climate change, defying calls from Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Education Minister Rob Stokes to stay in school. The event at Sydney Town Hall was expected to be one of the largest of the nationwide climate rallies today. The big crowd of young people, predominantly students, cheered loudly amid calls for an end to the Adani coal mine in Queensland and 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030. Rock star Jimmy Barnes and Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore were among those who attended the rally, and were spotted alongside the students wielding colourful signs. Rock star Jimmy Barnes was seen alongside students at Town Hall. ( ABC News: Taryn Southcombe Many students were attending against the advice of the NSW Government's leaders and conservative commentators. Students have called on governments to do more to reduce fossil fuel emissions, but they have faced resistance from government leadership and conservative commentators. Premier Gladys Berejiklian criticised Opposition Leader Michael Daley, who this week backed schoolkids planning to protest. "I encourage young people to feel passionately about important issues including climate change," she said. "But to suggest that they should strike during school hours is grossly irresponsible. I want to encourage students during school hours to express their views, to discuss their views in the classroom or the playground. "But to take time off to go to a protest is not acceptable. "And I was quite taken aback and shocked that the Leader of the Opposition thinks that's appropriate." The Coalition was criticised by protesters for its perceived inaction on climate change. ( ABC News: Taryn Southcombe The Department of Education said all students at government schools were expected to be in class and could face disciplinary action if they attended. "Any student not in class will be marked absent," a spokesman said. "And unexplained absences may be subject to the school's disciplinary code." During a media interview yesterday, Mr Stokes warned students they would be breaking the law if they skipped school. "Our school system is compulsory," he told 2GB. "Around a fifth of the year, there is no school, so there are plenty of occasions for kids that are passionate about a whole range of issues to engage in extracurricular activities. "The law is clear and always has been. Kids are required to be at school on school days." Students cheered loudly amid calls for 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030. ( ABC News: Taryn Southcombe 'We're here to make a change' Around 2,000 students rallied in Newcastle, where many felt environmental issues were close to home. "I can see the world's largest coal port from my doorstep and it's shameful," said Miette Xenith, 17, from Newcastle High. Loading She said her generation was scared for the future "because at my age it's kind of like staring down the barrel of a gun". "The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has said that we have 12 years to completely change what we're doing, before the impact is irreversible, so yeah, I feel strongly about it, because it's my future." Newcastle student Molly Highet said she was angry at the Government's inaction on climate change. "We're here to make a change and make the politicians do something for us," she said. "It's scary thinking that if they don't do anything real soon that we won't have a good future, or maybe won't have one at all, and our children won't. "They're the ones that can really make a change, but now they've left it up to us so we're trying to make the change for them."