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This is the start of the International Climate Week (20-27 September). This Friday, young people set the tone with the global climate strike, which they want inter-generational. Saturday will be the global march for climate and Monday the kick-off of the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York.
For young people, but also some companies around the world, it is about raising the pressure so that the echoes of these strikes reach the ears of the political leaders who will be gathered in New York. All with the young Swede Greta Thunberg in the lead.
Greta Thunberg, the figurehead of this youth climate movement, will be in New York to demonstrate with the American youth. She is the one who launched the call for this unprecedented climate mobilization: 4,500 events are organized in nearly 140 countries, including more than 150 in France. The message sent to Heads of State and Government can be summed up in Winston Churchill's phrase: " It's not about doing your best but doing what's required ." Scientists have raised the specter of a warming risk of 7 degrees by the end of the century if nothing is done. However, indicators are red , greenhouse gas emissions are increasing worldwide and biodiversity is disappearing at breakneck speed.
It is the economic system that is being blamed by these climate-conscious citizens. They say it: " We will strike whatever our age to pause this system for a day . "
I'm scared, I'm worried about my future
Marie, from the "Jeunes pour le Climat" movement 19/09/2019 - by Agnès Rougier Listen
Greta Thunberg, prophet in his country
Since Greta Thunberg left Sweden for a sabbatical year, and sailing across the Atlantic to travel to the United States, the climate's young muse have never seemed so prominent in the media. In his country, as elsewhere.
The school strike it launched a year ago is still very strong in Sweden, where no less than 130 events will be organized this Friday. She continues to brandish her sign in the streets, wherever she is. But today, she is no longer alone. A visit to the site of its movement, Friday for future , shows that hundreds of events are held around the world, as far as Alalska, or Kazakhstan. A notoriety such as Greta Thunberg comes to embody Sweden, even more than the one who held this position before it, the football player Zlatan Ibrahimovic, notes our correspondent in Stockholm , Frédéric Faux .
Just enter their names on a search engine to be convinced: 40 million results for the former striker of Paris Saint-Germain, almost double for Greta Thunberg.
Just 16, @GretaThunberg is already one of our planet's greatest advocates. Recognizing that it will change the face of climate change, it's unafraid to push for real action. She embodies our vision at the @ObamaFoundation: A future shaped by young leaders like her. pic.twitter.com/VgCPAaDp3C
Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 17, 2019Companies in the climate battle
The fight of the little Swede has been heard by companies around the world. From the end of August, companies such as Lush, Patagonia and Ben & Jerry's have announced their rallying to the youth strikes. Their goal is to stop day-to-day business in order to demand more efficiency and action from governments to preserve our planet. A movement of 20 companies, especially Australian, but which were quickly joined by others.
Today, there are more than 200 companies. They are eco-friendly and represent a large number of sectors: technology, green energy suppliers, ethical clothing stores, but also banks.
Each of these companies has a long history of fighting climate change, such as Patagonia, which has decided to close its 107 stores around the world. In its statement, the California brand encourages its employees to participate in the climate strike days to end the massive use of fossil fuels. A citizen approach and an issue for everyone, according to the group's general manager, Ryan Gellert.
Of the ten most vulnerable countries due to climate change, seven are in Africa ...
Clémence Dubois, from 350.org
In Africa, many citizens are already suffering from climate change. What echo does this global strike have in African countries?
19/09/2019 - by Agnès Rougier Listen■ Inga, the Polish Greta Thunberg
In Poland, one of the most polluted countries in Europe, organizer of the last major climate conference, COP24, a young girl, Inga Zasowska, decided to act. She spent her Fridays of July seated for hours in front of the Polish Parliament, but it is a very reserved 13-year-old girl who is staying at her home in a suburb of Warsaw.
From our correspondent in Warsaw, Thomas Giraudeau
Her sign proudly worn this summer, " the vacation for the climate, " next to her. " The Polish government is doing nothing. We still consume as much coal, and there is no program to develop renewable energies. At school, we learn almost nothing about sustainable development. So that's why I decided to act . "
Inga Zasowska does not really compare to her model, the Swede Greta Thunberg, the origin of the strikes of the school for the climate. At 13, the young Polonaise has also created a momentum during the summer. " There were other strikes after me, during the holidays. Organized by young people in other cities of Poland. As for my action, in front of Parliament, there were people who did not know me but also others who, from the first day, joined me to strike as well. Only a few politicians came, those of the opposition, but no one from the ruling party . "
The girl owes her commitment largely to her mother, a climate activist.
Like Greta Thunberg, Inga Zasowska is also accused of being instrumentalized, or of being too young to teach. Critics who do not touch her. She will travel this Friday, with her friends, to the youth demonstration for the climate.