PUPILS from the Cardigan area took part in a national day of action on Friday (February 15) as part of a global campaign to highlight concerns over climate change.

Youngsters around the country called on the government to declare a climate emergency and take active steps to tackle the problem.

In Cardigan, pupils from the town’s schools, along with those from Cilgerran and Haverfordwest, marched through the town with their banners and placards to meet with local county councillor Clive Davies to discuss the issues outside the council offices on Morgan Street.

They then went up to the steps outside the Guildhall. They were supported by parents and adults from the Extinction Rebellion group.

Organisers Youth Strike 4 Climate said protests took place in more than 60 towns and cities, with an estimated 15,000 youngsters taking part.

The action was part of a much wider global movement, known as Schools 4 Climate Action. It began with 15-year-old Swede Greta Thunberg skipping class to sit outside government buildings in September, accusing her country of not following the Paris Climate Agreement.

The group, which helped coordinate the protests, has four key demands:

  • The government should declare a "climate emergency"
  • It should also inform the public about the seriousness of the situation
  • The national curriculum should be reformed to include "the ecological crisis"
  • The age of voting should be lowered to 16 so younger people can be involved in decision-making around environmental issues.

Cllr Davies said he was impressed by the youngsters’ commitment to highlighting climate change and outlined what measures are in place around Cardigan and Ceredigion as a whole.

Since 2007, Ceredigion has reduced its annual carbon emissions by 45 per cent and has invested £2.1m in renewable energy and energy-saving initiatives over the last five years.

Future plans include updating its entire fleet of refuse vehicles; changing all street lights to LED bulbs by 2022; making all buildings more efficient by improving insulation, replacing windows, efficient boilers etc; upgrading school heating systems; reducing trees and hedgerows which are removed by road improvement schemes.