Focus on climate crisis
All articles | More information
Reporting on climate change is one of the major journalistic challenges of our time. The climate crisis is also one of the most important issues of humanity for SPIEGEL. For this reason, we support an international initiative that seeks to take a look this week: "Covering Climate Now" has been initiated by the Columbia Journalism Review and the Canadian newspaper "The Nation", with more than 200 media companies worldwide including the Guardian, El País, La Repubblica, The Times of India, Bloomberg or Vanity Fair. SPIEGEL is dedicating the cover story of the current issue to the climate crisis this week and every day pays special attention to mirror.de
They have come to roar their message into the sky of Hamburg: "People, let the lightning be, join the demo!" There are a few children, among tens of thousands of protesters, who have teamed up at this "Fridays For Future" demo in downtown Hamburg. And this afternoon, they are making some announcements to a few grown-up adults who are skeptical.
While chancellor Angela Merkel presented the government's climate protection measures after tough negotiations on Friday, millions around the globe took to the streets. Adults and children, united to follow the call for a worldwide climate strike. In Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe.
In Germany, they flocked through the streets in almost 600 cities. In Berlin alone, according to the police, there were around 270,000 demonstrators. Elementary students with a banner called near the Brandenburg Gate: "We are here, we are loud, because you steal your future!"
photo gallery
19 pictures
Global Climate Strike: "There are no jobs on a dead planet"According to police, more than 70,000 demonstrators arrived in Hamburg and Cologne. Even in smaller cities, such as in Münster and Freiburg, there were about 20,000 each. The German government's Climate Cabinet also addressed the protests in Germany on Friday, presenting key points for more climate protection. (Read here on the measures that the leaders of the Union and the SPD are capable of.) Here you will find the reactions to the climate package.)
The "Fridays for Future" movement, which was mainly supported by students and students, was for the first time supported on a large scale by other organizations and initiatives. These include the trade unions Verdi and IG Metall, the Protestant church as well as child protection, environmental and aid organizations, artists as well as parents and grandparents' networks.
Starting signal fell at daybreak
The starting signal for the worldwide climate strike fell on the dateline in the Pacific at daybreak. On the islands of Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Kiribati, which are threatened by rising sea levels, children sang: "We do not sink, we fight".
Tens of thousands of students stayed away from teaching in Australia. In the city of Alice Springs, many people fell to the ground and killed themselves. In New Delhi and Mumbai, Indian schoolchildren left their classrooms to strike for more climate protection. In the Philippines, which according to experts are particularly threatened by rising sea levels and ever-increasing storms, thousands of people demonstrated.
Protests by climate activists have also taken place in Hong Kong, where there have been demonstrations of the democracy movement over the past few months. On the African continent, activists in Kenya's capital Nairobi joined the climate strike. In Uganda, hundreds of schoolchildren gathered on the outskirts of Kampala to demand more commitment from the government in climate protection.
1.1 million students in New York with permission
One of the biggest rallies was to be held in New York, where numerous heads of state and government, including Chancellor Merkel, are expected to attend a UN climate summit on Monday. 1.1 million students from 1,800 schools in New York were given permission to stay away from class for participation in the demonstration on Friday. The rally in New York will also feature Greta Thunberg, the most prominent figure in the climate movement.
The Swede had called again on Thursday in a video message to participate in the climate strike. In front of her are a series of climate conferences, protests and other appointments. The United Nations Youth Climate Summit in New York kicks off on Saturday, followed by the UN Climate Summit.
More about the climate crisis
