Since the beginning of the year, large numbers of protests against government inaction on issues of climate change have been taking place in cities worldwide. Most of the movement has taken place in Europe, is largely student-led, and was inspired by the Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg, who has been speaking out and demanding action from leaders since last year. On March 15, thousands of environmentally concerned students in 80 countries held a “Fridays for Future” strike, marching through the streets with signs. This past week, parts of London were brought to a standstill by protesters from Extinction Rebellion, who have called on the British government to negotiate with them and to prioritize environmental protection.
Photos: Climate-Change Protests Around the World
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An Austrian youth shouts slogans during a climate protest, part of the "Fridays for Future" movement, outside the Hofburg palace in Vienna on March 15, 2019, a global day of student protests aiming to spark world leaders into action on climate change. #
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Extinction Rebellion climate-change activists perform a mass "die-in" under the blue whale in the foyer of the Natural History Museum in London, England, on April 22, 2019, the eighth day of the environmental group's protest calling for political action to combat climate change. #
Tolga Akmen / AFP / Getty -
The Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg (center) leads a march of thousands of French students through Paris, France, on February 22, 2019, to draw more attention to fighting climate change. Her sign reads: "School strike for the climate." #
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The Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg delivers a speech during a meeting with the environment committee of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on April 16, 2019. She began her speech saying, "My name is Greta Thunberg. I am 16 years old, I come from Sweden, and I want you to panic. I want you to act as if the house was on fire. I have said those words before, and a lot of people have explained why that is a bad idea. A great number of politicians have told me that panic never leads to anything good, and I agree. To panic, unless you have to, is a terrible idea. But when your house is on fire and you want to keep your house from burning to the ground, then that does require some level of panic." #
Vincent Kessler / Reuters -
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About 1,000 Minnesota students skipped school to gather on the steps of the state capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota, on March 15, 2019, as part of global protests by young people to demand that governments take swift and decisive action to fight climate change. #
Jim Mone / AP -
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Police officers attempt to remove climate-change activists who locked their hands together as they block traffic in the City of London financial district during environmental protests by the Extinction Rebellion group on April 25, 2019. #
Daniel Leal-Olivas / AFP / Getty -
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Demonstrators shout during a protest as they march through London, England, on April 12, 2019. Young protesters took to the streets after a government report revealed that the nation was set to miss its emissions targets. #
Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP -
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