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.

Bristol Youth Strike 4 Climate
FormationFebruary 2019 (2019-02)
TypeAdvocacy group
PurposeClimate change mitigation
Nature conservation
Environmental protection
Region
Bristol, United Kingdom
FieldsClimate justice
Environmental movement
AffiliationsFridays For Future
Websitebristolys4c.org
The first Bristol climate strike, in February 2019

Demands

BYS4C's website, as of December 2020, states the following demands:[5]

  1. Ensure air pollution across Bristol is at or below the legal limit.
  2. Free bus travel for under 18s and students.
  3. Pedestrianise roads in the city centre.
  4. 2021 Bristol Mayoral candidates must have a two term plan for 2030 carbon neutrality.
  5. 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

  1. Cork, Tristan (2019-02-14). "Are hundreds of Bristol children about to go on strike?". bristolpost.
  2. "Millions march against climate change worldwide". BBC News. 2019-09-20.
  3. "Meet the young Bristolians on strike to save our planet". Rife Magazine. 2019-11-07.
  4. "24 of the most inspiring people under 24 in 2019". Bristol 24/7. 2019-12-02.
  5. Demands - Bristol YS4C
  6. "Bristol schoolchildren hold climate protest at College Green - traffic updates".
  7. "Bristol airport expansion rejected".
  8. "Plan to expand Bristol airport rejected after climate protests".
  9. "Greta's Army: 'Why we're skipping school to save the planet'". itv.com.
  10. "Climate strike 20 September - adults to join youth strikers across the world".
  11. "Bristol students to hold 'largest ever' climate strike this month".
  12. "Labour Mayor refuses to back Climate Strike". bristolgreenparty.org.uk.
  13. "Bristol Greenpeace supports global climate strike".
  14. "Over 4 Million Join 2 Days of Global Climate Strike". Global Climate Strike.
  15. "'World is on fire', Greta warns climate strike". BBC News. 2020-02-28.
  16. "Live: Greta Thunberg in Bristol".
  17. "Greta Thunberg joins thousands of protesters in Bristol".
  18. "Greta Thunberg joined by crowds of 30,000 at Bristol Youth Climate Strike". ITV News.
  19. Morris, Steven (2020-02-28). "Greta Thunberg in Bristol: schools shut as students join climate strike". The Guardian.
  20. "Statement on planned youth climate protest in Bristol". Avon and Somerset Police. 2020-02-24.
  21. "Bristol youth climate strikers hit back at claims Greta Thunberg visit won't have 'adequate safety measures'". ITV News.
  22. "Parents warned ahead of Greta Thunberg protest". BBC News. 2020-02-26.
  23. "Greta Thunberg praises Bristol climate change activists in appearance at Youth Strike 4 Climate March". ITV News.
  24. "Greta Thunberg rally damaged green space". BBC News. 2020-03-01.
  25. "campaigners raise more than 13k to repair College Green after Greta rally".
  26. "Greta climate protest site grass grows back". BBC News. 2020-03-03.
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