Thousands of Quebecers call on provincial, federal governments to fight climate change
Changes have to happen now, says Dawson College student, because 'we know that our future is in peril'
Thousands of people gathered in several different Quebec cities on Friday to press for stronger action action against climate change.
The demonstrations were part of a global movement inspired by the young Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg.
In Montreal, people of all ages came out to push for change, including the city's mayor, Valérie Plante.
"More than ever, the population is concerned about the climate crisis and asks governments to accelerate the ecological transition," she said on Twitter.
But there were plenty of kids participating. For example, nine-year-old Henri Amyot said he doesn't "want the world to burn because it's burning."
And eight-year-old Pacha Guillen said she doesn't want to live on a planet with so much garbage.
Mia Kennedy, a member of Dawson College's Green Earth Club, said it's time for concrete action.
"I think that we are all really passionate about the environment," she said.
"Especially as young people, we know that our future is in peril, and that if we don't mobilize and don't act now, we may be dying of climate change."
Organizers are calling for carbon neutrality by 2030 in Quebec, and are hoping Canada will cut its emissions and be a leader among G7 nations.
Based on a report by Kwabena Oduro