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Students on LI, worldwide demand action against climate change
Posted: Mar 15, 2019 5:32 PM EDTUpdated: Mar 15, 2019 5:32 PM EDT
MINEOLA -
Students on Long Island and around the world demanded action against climate change Friday.
From Washington, D.C., to the South Pacific and Stockholm, tens of thousands of students skipped school Friday "to teach a lesson" and share their fears about climate change.
The international "day of action" was organized on social media. The mission of the "Youth Climate Strike" organizers is to demand what’s been called a "Green New Deal." In the U.S., it includes 100 percent renewable energy by 2030, upgrading the current electric grid, and no creation of additional fossil fuel infrastructure.
Amelia Medved skipped class at Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Syosset to join the demonstration at the Mineola Long Island Rail Road station.
News 12 spoke with Pegeen Freise, a senior at Northport High School, via FaceTime as she and 17 other students returned from a Manhattan protest. She says there's no doubt they'd be able to bring about change if more people were interested in the environment.
Adrienne Esposito, of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, says student-run movements are essential in keeping the pressure on politicians.
The United Nations secretary-general says he was inspired by the student climate strikers to call a special summit in September to deal with what he called "the climate emergency."