Bristol Youth Strike 4 Climate
Bristol Youth Strike 4 Climate (abbreviated as BYS4C) is an environmental advocacy group that was established in February 2019.[1] in response to the international Fridays for Future and Youth Strike 4 Climate movements.[2] Run by a team of student volunteers[3] aged 14 to 24,[4] the group have organised 10 climate strikes as of September 2020, calling for climate justice and drawing attention to the climate and ecological crisis.
Formation | February 2019 |
---|---|
Type | Advocacy group |
Purpose | Climate change mitigation Nature conservation Environmental protection |
Region | Bristol, United Kingdom |
Fields | Climate justice Environmental movement |
Affiliations | Fridays For Future |
Website | bristolys4c |
Demands
BYS4C's website, as of December 2020, states the following demands:[5]
- Ensure air pollution across Bristol is at or below the legal limit.
- Free bus travel for under 18s and students.
- Pedestrianise roads in the city centre.
- 2021 Bristol Mayoral candidates must have a two term plan for 2030 carbon neutrality.
- Increased retrofitting of houses and clear regulations to ensure new builds adhere to 2030 carbon neutrality.
Bristol Airport Expansion
In April 2019, the group started a campaign against the proposed Bristol Airport expansion[6] which continued until the airport's planning permission was declined by North Somerset Council in February 2020.[7][8][9]
20 September 2019 Global Strike
On 20 September 2019, BYS4C took part in the Global Strike 4 Climate[10][11][12][13] which was the biggest ever worldwide climate protest. The event reportedly drew crowds of 15,000 with 4 million protestors taking to the streets globally.[14]
28 February 2020 'Greta Thunberg' strike
On 28 February 2020, the group became the only UK-based climate strike group to host Greta Thunberg.[15][16][17] The protest was organised in just under a week due to short notice, with an estimated 30,000 people[18] joining the group to call for climate action.[19] Despite the limited organisation time and public concern over safety,[20][21][22] the event proceeded without any major incidents and organisers were praised by both the authorities and Greta Thunberg's team for their ability to host such a large event with minimal resources.[23] The protest resulted in some controversy as College Green, the location of the protest, became very muddy due to the high footfall and wet weather conditions.[24] However, despite claims that Bristol City Council would have to pay to replace the grass and a GoFundMe page started to cover these costs,[25] the grass regrew within a week with no intervention.[26]
References
- Cork, Tristan (2019-02-14). "Are hundreds of Bristol children about to go on strike?". bristolpost.
- "Millions march against climate change worldwide". BBC News. 2019-09-20.
- "Meet the young Bristolians on strike to save our planet". Rife Magazine. 2019-11-07.
- "24 of the most inspiring people under 24 in 2019". Bristol 24/7. 2019-12-02.
- Demands - Bristol YS4C
- "Bristol schoolchildren hold climate protest at College Green - traffic updates".
- "Bristol airport expansion rejected".
- "Plan to expand Bristol airport rejected after climate protests".
- "Greta's Army: 'Why we're skipping school to save the planet'". itv.com.
- "Climate strike 20 September - adults to join youth strikers across the world".
- "Bristol students to hold 'largest ever' climate strike this month".
- "Labour Mayor refuses to back Climate Strike". bristolgreenparty.org.uk.
- "Bristol Greenpeace supports global climate strike".
- "Over 4 Million Join 2 Days of Global Climate Strike". Global Climate Strike.
- "'World is on fire', Greta warns climate strike". BBC News. 2020-02-28.
- "Live: Greta Thunberg in Bristol".
- "Greta Thunberg joins thousands of protesters in Bristol".
- "Greta Thunberg joined by crowds of 30,000 at Bristol Youth Climate Strike". ITV News.
- Morris, Steven (2020-02-28). "Greta Thunberg in Bristol: schools shut as students join climate strike". The Guardian.
- "Statement on planned youth climate protest in Bristol". Avon and Somerset Police. 2020-02-24.
- "Bristol youth climate strikers hit back at claims Greta Thunberg visit won't have 'adequate safety measures'". ITV News.
- "Parents warned ahead of Greta Thunberg protest". BBC News. 2020-02-26.
- "Greta Thunberg praises Bristol climate change activists in appearance at Youth Strike 4 Climate March". ITV News.
- "Greta Thunberg rally damaged green space". BBC News. 2020-03-01.
- "campaigners raise more than 13k to repair College Green after Greta rally".
- "Greta climate protest site grass grows back". BBC News. 2020-03-03.