Climate change protests: London brought to standstill as students demonstrate against climate change

Students protesting against climate change brought parts of London to a standstill today as they demonstrated across bridges and in busy tourist spots.

The walkout started at 11am in Parliament Square, where the same group brought traffic to a standstill in February.

Under the banner YouthStrike4Climate, students demanded the declaration of a state of climate emergency in order to educate the public about the danger and extent of climate change.

“Young people in the UK have shown that we’re angry at the lack of government leadership on climate change,” said Anna Taylor, the 17-year old co-founder of the Climate Network.

“Those in power are not only betraying us, and taking away our future, but are responsible for the climate crisis that’s unfolding in horrendous ways around the world,” she added.

Protestors blocked the carriageway at Trafalgar Square and surrounding roads.

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Meanwhile traffic was severely hampered along Westminster Bridge and Parliament Square, as well as Waterloo Bridge Roundabout.

UK Student Climate Network estimated that February's demonstration saw 15,000 students nationwide take part, with nearly twice as many towns and cities expected to participate in this action.

Around 2,400 people said they would be attending on the Facebook page for the London strike.

The walkout coincided with demonstrations across the world, with students from 1,300 towns and cities in over 90 countries expected to participate.

The walkouts were inspired by Greta Thunberg of Sweden, who first started leaving school to protest in August.

Thunberg has been nominated for a Nobel peace prize for her efforts.