Over 500 Delhi-NCR students join 'Fridays For Future' climate change protest

"I can't breathe. Should I stop going to school?" "Kids need clean air". "No more excuses".

These were some of the phrases on placards Delhi-NCR students carried as they joined the global "Fridays for Future" protest against climate change, urging governments and authorities to tackle the problem.

The protests were started by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg in August 2018, becoming a regular event on the 15th of every month. Students from over 1,300 towns and cities went on planned strikes across the world Friday, a statement from the Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC) said.

In the Delhi-NCR, over 500 students between age group of 10-16 years skipped their schools to be a part of the protest here.

"Climate change is the millenial cancer. It needs to be nipped in the bud. My teachers say we must cover our face when we go out in winters, but then I fell sick even in summers too. I can't play outside, and if I do I can't breathe," said Arya Gupta.

The 13-year-old student had a few questions for political leaders too.

"Last winter, politicians said they have a plan to clean the air but even now, my city's skyline is polluted. Does that mean I should stop going to school altogether? Even the United Nation's report says India is the world's most polluted country, clearly the government's plan is not working."