Stop climate change. Limit global warming. Take urgent action. It’s the drumbeat refrain that the Fridays For Future movement has been sounding since 2018 when Greta Thunberg set up camp outside Swedish Parliament.
To begin with, Greta was alone, but she was soon joined by others. Together, they created #FridaysForFuture, and encouraged other young people all over the world to join them. This marked the beginning of the global school strike for climate. A year later, climate strikes took place across the world gathering around 4 million protesters, many of them schoolchildren — the largest climate protest in history.
On Friday, March 3, climate activists around the world will return once again to the streets for this year's worldwide youth climate strike.
GET READY FOR OUR NEXT GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE! March 3, 2023! https://t.co/3bNYSbpPsH
— Fridays For Future NYC (@FFF_NYC_) January 14, 2023
The need to tackle the climate crisis has grown increasingly urgent with an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, published in February 2022, stating that climate change is intensifying and the world is far behind on the goal to keep temperature increases below 1.5 degrees Celsius — a global commitment agreed in Paris in 2015. Another IPCC report, published in April 2022, highlighted that it is still possible to keep warming below 1.5C — but we need urgent and widespread climate action now.
Here’s everything you need to know about the next global climate strike.
When Is It Happening?
Friday, March 3.
Where Can I Find a Protest Near Me?
The event is taking place in cities around the world. Check the Fridays For Future map to find registered protests near you.
If there aren’t any close enough, you can start your own, and register it. As Greta once said: “You’re never too small to make a difference.” If you're thinking of setting up your own protest, Fridays For Future has some very helpful resources (including where to strike, whether you need permission, how to stay safe, and more) to check out.
Can I Skip School?
Fridays For Future recommend talking to your principal and teachers ahead of time and asking them to support you. Do your research and bring accurate scientific information to these meetings to let them know you’re serious and well informed.
If you decide you can’t skip school, you can still get your school talking about the climate emergency by striking in school at lunch time for example.
Fridays For Future have some great resources including templates of letters for headteachers, how teachers can help, and more.
Can I Still Show Support if I Can’t Go to a Protest?
There are loads of ways you can get involved, without even leaving the house. You can change your social media profile picture, striking indoors with a sign posted on social media (using hashtags such as #FridaysForFuture; #ClimateStrikeonline, and #Digitalstrike).
You could also get creative with a performative piece, sign online petitions, and take action urging world and business leaders to take climate action NOW with Global Citizen.
What's Being Protested?
The goal of the strike is to put pressure on policymakers and governments around the world, to make them listen to scientists, and take widespread and urgent action to tackle climate change and limit global warming.
Every year, the strike has a different theme — and this year, it's #PeopleNotProfit.
Environmental injustice continues to be a major issue around the world. Global warming is affecting most those that have contributed the least to climate change. That's why it's up to environmentalists from around the world to advocate for those who are bearing the brunt of climate change.