READING will join the global climate strike on Friday with a demonstration outside the civic offices on Bridge Street. 

The event begins at 12pm and includes speeches.

Several groups are supporting the demonstration, including Reading Trades Union Council, the local Green and Labour parties, Extinction Rebellion, and the local GMB union branch. 

Organisers said the event isn’t aligned or affiliated by any particular group, but rather a broad coalition. 

William Linegar, of Reading Green party, said: “We need as broad a coalition as possible, groups and parties of all stripes, to show the people who have led this movement that they’re right, they’re not alone, and they have support and solidarity from every corner to help them win this fight.”

Similar strikes will be held around the world on Friday. Protests will be held in UK cities including London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Cardiff. 

The United Nations will hold an emergency climate action summit on September 23 in New York, and a youth climate summit on September 21 to get young activists and innovators involved. 

Reading Borough Council declared a climate emergency in February this year, aiming to get Reading carbon neutral by 2030. 

The Reading Climate strike event on Facebook states: “We must follow alongside the young people who have been leading the way this year. We invite all — young and old — to support this strike, and to give young people all the encouragement we can.

“[On Friday] people everywhere will walk out of their homes and workplaces together, and join young strikers in the streets to demand climate justice and emergency action to tackle the climate crisis.

“We know governments won’t do it on their own, so we’re going on climate strike to show them what people-power is capable of.”