The Swiss demonstrations are part of global protest action with people from 130 countries taking part in the so-called Fridays for Future movement, inspired by Swedish teenage activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Greta Thunberg.
READ ALSO: The Local's interview with Greta Thunberg
In Switzerland, protesters are calling for the country to have a net zero domestic carbon footprint by 2030. Current government targets aim for these emissions to be at least 20 percent lower than 1990 levels by 2020.
Around 10,000 people took to the streets in Lausanne on Friday morning, according to police estimates.
Proud to be one of 10,000 marching in Lausanne for action on Climate Change. #ClimateStrike #FridaysForFuture #Lausanne https://t.co/7awhOo9TTp pic.twitter.com/cg8sm5SZAy
— Justin Ball (@JB_Fusion) March 15, 2019
Thousands also took to the streets in Bern and Zurich, with Swiss media reporting that plenty of adults had joined students in the demonstrations.
#Klimastreik Zurich, in the rain.#climatestrike pic.twitter.com/5WLaSsZTFc
— Robert Rohde (@RARohde) March 15, 2019
Protest organisers Klimastreik Schweiz claimed 10,000 people had taken part in the Bern action while they put the number at 12,000 in Zurich.
Other protests were also planned for cities including Geneva, Lugano, Basel and Chur.
ENDLESS! Thousands out in #Bern, #Switzerland. Young people are rising in 2052 places in 123 countries on every continents.
We must #ActOnClimate. There is no time to waste.#climatestrike #klimaatstaking #FridayForFutures #GreenNewDeal @GretaThunberg ? via @staudenmann pic.twitter.com/UgDAOQPEM3
— Mike Hudema (@MikeHudema) March 15, 2019
Friday’s action are not the first time Swiss students have come out to protest climate change. Other demonstrations took place on January 18th and February 2nd.
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