In Australia, thousands of students walked out of class today to demand action on climate change in a nationwide student strike.

Student: “Well, I think our government needs to take more action on climate change, so that our generation and our kids’ generation and their kids can have a future that’s sustainable and healthy on a planet that we haven’t destroyed.”

The students of all ages are calling for their government to stop the construction of new coal mines and move toward 100 percent renewable energy by 2030.

The protests come as eastern Australia is experiencing record-breaking wildfires, with close to 200 separate fires identified this week.