Climate strike – live: Millions across world demand urgent action to save planet in largest environmental protest in history

Demonstrations inspired by teenage Swedish activist Greta Thunberg take place ahead of UN climate summit in New York

Climate strikes expected to be largest environmental protest in history

Tens of thousands of mostly students have taken to the streets of Australia and other Asia-Pacific countries as a day of worldwide demonstrations against climate change gets underway.

Millions of people around the world are expected to take part in what could be the largest climate protest in history. British students are preparing to walk out of lessons and lectures and adults are being encouraged to join them as they strike.

Protests inspired by the teenage Swedish activist Greta Thunberg are planned in around 150 countries as people demand world leaders take immediate action to limit the harmful effects of manmade climate change ahead of a environmental summit at the United Nations in New York on Monday, as the UN General Assembly opens.

Follow the latest updates

Please allow a moment for the live blog to load

Key Points

• Thousands march in Parliament Square chanting 'this is what democracy looks like'
• Two arrested for breaching protest conditions
• Students planning to let off alarm clocks across UK at 1pm
• Schools minister says children should not miss school to protest
• Greta Thunberg's speech urging leaders to take climate crisis seriously
• Minister for business, energy and clean growth says he cannot endorse children leaving school to take part in climate strikes

[20 September 2019 21:49 · Chris Baynes]

Greta Thunberg has tweeted a picture of teeming crowds in New York:

 

[20 September 2019 22:02 · Chris Baynes]

Former US president Barack Obama says today's young generation deserve action from world leaders:

[20 September 2019 22:18 · Chris Baynes]

   center no-repeat #999999;cursor:pointer;top:-1px; border-radius: 0px 0px 2px 2px;">↵

We're wrapping this live article up now after a extraordinary day of worldwide climate action. We'll be back in the morning with more coverage, but for now I leave you with this round-up from my colleagues Phoebe Weston and Chris Riotta: