Australian students skip school to protest for climate change

Thousands of Australian school students have urged greater action on climate change in protests across the country.

The students skipped school on Friday to highlight what they say are inadequate climate policies by the Australian government.

Protests were held in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Coffs Harbour, Bendigo, and other cities, as students banded together to pressure the Morrison Government in the lead-up to a federal election.

On Monday, Australian PM Scott Morrison rebuked their plans for "activism" during school hours and insisted his government was tackling climate change.

Many students said his remarks had bolstered their resolve to protest.

The groundswell was inspired by 15-year-old Swedish student Greta Thunberg, who pledged to protest outside parliament in Stockholm until the country caught up on its commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Australia has committed to reducing its emissions by 26-28% on 2005 levels by 2030, under the Paris climate agreement.

Morrison most recently cited a renewable energy target, a clean energy purchasing fund, and a hydropower project as evidence of Australia's progress.

He told parliament on Monday: "What we want is more learning in schools and less activism in schools."

Resources Minister Matt Canavan, meanwhile, angered protesters by saying students would not learn anything from "walking off school and protesting".

"The best thing you learn about going to a protest is how to join the dole [welfare] queue because that's what your future life will look like," he told a radio interviewer.

Many students held placards criticizing the government, and PM Morrison specifically. "I hate ScoMo [Scott Morrison] more than I hate school," one said.

Earlier this week, the UN said Australia and many nations were falling short of their emission commitments.

Australia had made "no improvement" in its climate policy since last year, according to the emissions gap report.

School Strike 4 Climate Action protests have been held in every state capital and 20 regional towns.