The Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) supports the student mobilisation against climate change. Global actions are taking place in the form of strikes, demonstrations, and other actions showing the outrage of young people at the weak responses of governments to the threats to our planet and to present and future generations.

The world is a long way from achieving the goals of the 2015 Paris climate change agreement. With the exception of a handful of “climate deniers”, there is an overwhelming consensus that something has to be done. The argument that climate change is taking place is increasingly being made by extreme and disquieting weather events.

Students, by being visible and in the streets in a sustained way, have brought a new sense of urgency to this fight. We share in that sense of urgency and urge our member organisation to join with the students, especially in support and solidarity with the mobilisation on Friday, 15 March.

A map showing where events are taking place is available at:https://www.fridaysforfuture.org/events/map

Additional information can be found at:https://twitter.com/hashtag/ClimateStrike?src=hash.

BWI has worked for many years on climate change with a focus on our sectors. Our work includes sustainable buildings. Retrofitting buildings and ensuring that new ones are constructed with energy efficiency built in is one of the largest potential contributors to the reduction of carbon emissions. Sustainable forests that are re-planted and maintained, also reduce carbon. Forests are the lungs of our planet and need to be protected and renewed.

Student protests are giving us hope on stopping climate change. However, their actions are also helping to renew and re-rejuvenate our democracies. Dealing with climate change is one, but only one, critical challenge for democracy. In fact, real effective actions as opposed to “band-aid” remedies like market incentives, on climate change will require us all to address additional issues like industrial and investment policies and the problems of gaping inequalities and the future of work.

BWI General Secretary Ambet Yuson, said, “we support the student climate change strikes and other actions, but we also look forward to working with this coming generation to mobilise to strengthen our democracies and their capacities to “deliver”. Together, we can persuade elected leaders to address the problems of the many, including climate change, rather than concentrating on helping those who already have too much.”

Our Future Generations Deserve a Better Planet. Act Now! #ClimateCrisis #JustTransition

Download the poster here