STUDENTS will be skipping classes to join a global protest over climate change.

Children as young as nine will be taking to the streets calling for leaders to take urgent action on global warming.

Demonstrations will go ahead on Friday in more than 40 cities in the UK, including Brighton, Southampton, London, Manchester and Glasgow.

The mass strike, called UK Youth Strike 4 Climate, organised by UK Student Climate Network, is supported by teachers.

The movement is inspired by 16-year-old Swedish school student Greta Thunberg, who started the first school strike for climate outside the Swedish parliament building last year.

The rallies on Friday will be the first school strike for climate change in the UK.

International relations and geography student at the University of Sussex Rosanne Spassen will be joining in the rally.

The Argus:

The 21-year-old said: “I will be skipping class for the demonstration. The head of geography and other lecturers are supporting me.

“It means a lot to me. At the demonstration we will also be learning about climate change facts so it’s not about holding banners and shouting slogans because we want to inform people how global warming affects the world.

“It’s not just about skipping classes – we want to show our leaders why climate change is important to us because it not only affects the environment but also gender equality and global justice.

“If we don’t do something about climate change it will be too late.

“After graduation, I want to work with youth green activists across the world to campaign on environmental rights.

“I want to work with academics and indigenous communities to help improve our climate.”

Jake Woodier, UK Youth Climate Coalition co-ordinator who is based in Brighton, said: “We aim to put climate change action back into the spotlight again.

“Young people around the world are hugely interested in climate action.

“We want to take positive action to ensure people in power understand the urgency of climate change.

“In fact, it’s young people who have a bigger stake in this because we will be affected directly by global warming if nothing is done now.

“Brighton has a rich culture of environment awareness, we have a Green MP and a large student population who are in tune with what climate change means. We have primary, secondary and university students joining us.”

UK Youth Strike 4 Climate will take place at 11am at the Clock Tower in North Street.