More than 30 teenagers joined their global peers from 10–11 a.m. on the lawn of the San Juan County Courthouse on Friday, March 15, for the Youth Climate Stike. From Korea, Australia, Germany and across the United States, students left their classrooms to demand action on global warming.

“Carbon emissions have put the entire world ecosystem at risk and our society has to take dramatic steps to stop their harmful impacts,” Friday Harbor High School students wrote in a statement to the Journal the day of the event.

The strike included the majority of the Spring Street International School student body, according to Spring Street Student Sydney Fouquette. That group stayed from approximately 12:30–2 p.m.

The movement was sparked by Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old Swedish student, according to the US Youth Strike website. According to the site, Thunberg organized the march because the scientists warn there may only be a few years to transform energy systems, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent the worst effects of climate change from happening.

“We are striking because our world leaders have yet to acknowledge, prioritize, or properly address our climate crisis,” the website said.

The Friday Harbor High students walked out of the Friday Harbor High School at 9 a.m and marched through Friday Harbor before gathering at the San Juan County Courthouse lawn for approximately an hour.

“Our current government is not addressing this major issue and is hurting the future of the planet,” the students wrote in their statement.

The youths held up an array of signs calling attention to the ongoing environmental crisis.

“The climate is changing, why aren’t we?” one sign asked.

“One planet one chance,” stated another.

People driving along Second Street honked in support, while the teenagers waved back enthusiastically — one student a sign that read, “Our planet, our future.”

For more information about the Youth Climate Strike, visit youthclimatestrikeus.org/platform.