Today, young people from sixty cities and towns across the UK, and from 82 nations worldwide, will be taking part in the Global Youth Strike For Climate, inspired by the Swedish sixteen year-old Greta Thunberg and demanding urgent action from older people on climate change .
In Manchester, around one thousand school pupils and students are expected to rally in St Peter's Square at noon, and they will be joined by students from Salford University.
"I've been involved in the movement since the November London action where Extinction Rebellion blocked six bridges, and since then I've been trying to raise awareness of the issue because I think it will lead to potential societal collapse within my lifetime, and I'm trying to prevent that really" says Salford University student Ben Day.
"On campus, lots of people are aware of it and hopefully there'll be lots of people there" he adds "I'm also trying to set up a Salford Climate Society at the University, so that we can connect people up for future actions."
The strike comes less than a fortnight before Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, holds a summit to mobilise the city region around a carbon neutrality target of 2038 - which some of the strikers feel is inadequate.
"I want to make sure climate change does not damage our planet" says six year old Edith Shember-Critchley, from Manchester "It has already damaged our planet a little bit but we do not want it getting any more worse..."
Charlotte Lastoweckyi, aged 17 from Timperley, adds: "I don't want to look back and think I should have done more."
The Global Youth Strike for Climate rally will take place between noon and 2pm at St Peter's Square in Manchester, preceded by a march from Manchester University at 11am.
All ages are welcome to attend. For further details see the Facebook event page – click here
Update 4pm: Over 1,000 Climate Strikers Converge On Manchester - click here
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