Thousands of students across Australia walked out of classrooms to take part in the School Strike 4 Climate on Friday, calling for greater action on global heating. Defying pouring rain in Sydney, strikers chanted for climate justice, condemning the gas, coal and fossil fuel industries, and the Morrison government’s recent decision to fund a $600m gas-fired power plant. One of the organisers of the strike, Natasha Abhayawickrama, told Guardian Australia students across the country want to see the government take on a more robust climate policy. “We want some meaningful climate action,” she said. “The government’s decision to put $600 million towards a gas plant, in addition to allocating so much money in the budget towards gas and fossil fuels, will only drive us further into the climate crisis. “Right now we need clean, renewable energy to be funded, for us to have a safe future.” Abhayawickrama said it was a sense of uncertainty that brought together students from across the country. Strikes were held in 47 different places in Australia, from Alice Springs to Launceston, Cairns, Margret River, Bendigo and Port Macquarie.