Students across U.K. go 'on strike' to protest inaction on climate change

Schoolchildren in the U.K. took to the streets Friday morning as they went "on strike" to protest inaction on climate change policy, reports BBC.

Protest organizer Youth Strike 4 Climate said the protests reached 60 cities across the U.K. with an estimated 15,000 participants, per BBC.

British Prime Minister Theresa May's office criticized students partaking in the protest, saying the strike "increases teachers' workloads and wastes lesson time" reports Sky News.

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The U.K.'s energy minister Claire Perry voiced support for the students protesting, and Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn called the students' actions inspiring.

Students protesting want the government to declare a climate emergency and make climate change an educational priority in school curriculums, per Sky News. The strikes were inspired by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, who staged weekly sit-ins outside the Swedish parliament in protest of climate change inaction.

A global school walkout is planned for March 15.