Today new Fridays for Future global climate strike

HomeGreenFridays for Future’s new global climate strike today Matteo Paolini Freelance journalist In 2012 he obtained enrollment in the Register of Freelance Journalists. Since 2015 he has been working as a freelance journalist dealing with environmental issues. Today there is a new global strike organized by Fridays For Future activists in defense of the environment and to combat climate change. The movement, known for the strikes organized in recent years, says that a new mobilization is needed: the climate crisis is affecting our cities and action for climate justice cannot be postponed. The movement was born in 2019 and has made itself known internationally thanks to its protest actions in squares around the world. The rise of extreme weather events In Italy, Fridays For Future is raising the question regarding the 310 extreme events that occurred in 2022, mainly droughts, hailstorms, tornadoes and floods, which caused the death of 29 people. According to the climate movement, the summer of 2022 was the hottest in European history, with record temperatures in southern Italy. In November of the same year, the average CO2 in the atmosphere was about 420 parts per million, just 10 points below the limit set by Climate Watch Data experts to keep global temperature rise below 1.5°C . Finger pointed at energy companies Activists note that as public transport costs rise in many Italian municipalities, energy companies are making billions in extra profits. Additionally, exploration and extraction projects for high-emitting fossil fuels are ramping up, which could lead to global warming beyond the brink. Fridays For Future believes that immediate action is needed to avoid irreparable damage to the environment and society. Rethinking the Status Quo to Address Global Challenges To address the social, economic and environmental challenges of our time, it is necessary to rethink the status quo. As the young people of Fridays For Future explain, governments and other institutions around the world must adopt new ways of thinking and actively engage in widespread systems innovation to make real progress towards a healthier and more prosperous world. However, many of them continue to adopt traditional economic models without recognizing the damage they are causing to society and the environment. This is often reflected in reactive measures, such as treating respiratory illnesses caused by air pollution instead of investing in public transport, rebuilding after floods caused by climate change instead of divesting from fossil fuels and investing in clean energy, or focusing on health interventions related to poor nutrition instead of improving agricultural supply chains and promoting demand for healthy foods. Reactive measures fail to address root causes of global problems While efforts to mitigate the effects of problems are vital, they fail to address the root causes and the interconnections between them. A broader and more systemic approach is needed to address these issues, through policies and investments that promote long-term, sustainable and transformative solutions. Only then, say young environmentalists, can we make real progress towards a more equitable, prosperous and healthy world for all. The power of science in building the global future As can be read on the Fridays For Future website, “science is a solid but flexible ground, similar to our modern Pillars of Hercules”. If we act appropriately, even the most ambitious goals are achievable. However, if we take the wrong direction, we could find ourselves exploring unfamiliar and risky territory. Science has always been clear on this point: it offers us a clear overview and perspective on the actions to be taken globally and shows us the way on how to improve our quality of life in cities and regenerate community resources. Actions for sustainable services It is essential to pay attention to how urban services can affect the quality of life. Urgent action is needed to divert the profits of large fossil fuel companies out of the pockets of shareholders towards the sustainability of services. But which services? Urban ones such as the CERS, renewable energy communities and sustainable and widespread public transport. Young Italians concerned about climate change Young Italians are very concerned about the impact of climate change and expect the government to act decisively in favor of the 100% renewable energy target. These are the main conclusions of a research promoted by the WWF and conducted by EMG Different, on the occasion of the global climate strike. About 58% of young people surveyed believe that climate change has a significant impact on their lives, and 56% say they take daily actions to address the climate crisis. Furthermore, 77% of young people declare themselves very or fairly concerned about climate change and more than half of the sample say they are making more sustainable consumption choices to help combat the problem. Finally, 44% of respondents expect institutions to take immediate action to address the issue.