BERLIN, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of students gathered in Berlin for a "Fridays for Future" protest demanding more ambitious action from the German government in the fight against climate change.
Organizers registered 15,000 participants in the protest in Germany's capital. School strikes were also planned in 20-odd German cities on Friday.
"We are the generation that can change this climate chaos," said Luisa Neubauer, one of the main organizers of "Fridays for Future" in Germany.
A youth climate conference was also being held in the Bavarian city of Erlangen, attended by Bavarian Environment Minister Thorsten Glauber. Some 180 students from all over northern Bavaria were invited to discuss climate protection and Bavaria's climate policy with Glauber.
The founder of the "Fridays for Future" movement, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, joined the march in Berlin. Addressing the crowd, Thunberg said that "the older generations have failed in tackling the biggest crisis humanity has ever faced."
"We want a future, is that too much to ask for?" Thunberg said. The 16-year-old has galvanized young people across Europe and beyond since she began organizing a school strike and rally outside the Swedish Parliament in August.
Inspired by Thunberg's activism, young people around the world have been taking to the streets on Fridays instead of going to school or university. The students are demanding more action against climate change from their respective governments.
