VANCOUVER - Swedish activist Greta Thunberg attended a climate rally in Vancouver today when 15 young people announced their plans to sue the federal government because of the impact they say global warming is having on their lives.
The event was billed as a post-election climate strike.
Sustainabiliteens, a youth-led group, has been staging Fridays for Future rallies inspired by climate protests Thunberg launched last year outside the Swedish Parliament.
The march will loop around downtown Vancouver to the waterfront and back to the steps of the art gallery, where Greta Thunberg will speak. #ClimateStrike #climatestrikevancouver pic.twitter.com/bEKz0UqcJo
— Joanna Chiu 趙淇欣 (@joannachiu) October 25, 2019
Organizers say they want Justin Trudeau's government to create a Green New Deal that puts science-aligned emission reduction targets into legislation.
The 15 young Canadians from across the country announced the lawsuit against the federal government alleging it contributed to climate change.
Greta Thunberg holding ‘Skolstrejk Klimatet’ sign near head of march in downtown Vancouver. #ClimateStrike #ClimateStrikeVancouver #climatestrikecanada @starvancouver pic.twitter.com/qaY4DCusxK
— Joanna Chiu 趙淇欣 (@joannachiu) October 25, 2019
The David Suzuki Foundation, a partner in the case, said the young plaintiffs each allege they have suffered "specific" injuries due to the changing climate.
Impromptu dance party during #ClimateStrikeVancouver. Security guards linked around Greta as fans crowd around to get close to her. #ClimateStrike @starvancouver pic.twitter.com/PLdW35xrXn
— Joanna Chiu 趙淇欣 (@joannachiu) October 25, 2019
The allegations have not been tested in court and the federal government has not commented on the lawsuit.
Thunberg is touring Western Canada and attended a climate strike rally in Edmonton last week that attracted thousands of people to the lawn of the Alberta legislature. The group calling for climate action vastly outnumbered oil-and-gas industry supporters who showed up.
— Joanna Chiu 趙淇欣 (@joannachiu) October 25, 2019
A mural of the 16-year-old in Edmonton was defaced. James Bagnall said he wrote "stop the lies" and "this is oil country" on the painting because he was tired of people "bashing" Albertans' way of life but he wasn't taking shots at Thunberg as a person.
“My grandfather told me .. one day your mother will kill you. He was talking about Mother Earth.” #ClimateStrike #climatestrikevancouver pic.twitter.com/uk1vBWzkIV
— Joanna Chiu 趙淇欣 (@joannachiu) October 25, 2019