University climate strikes begin in Prague, Brno, and Olomouc
Climate strikes have begun across Czech universities, with events taking place over the next seven days in Prague, Brno, and Olomouc.
Organized as student protests, the strikes will include lectures, debates, and marches. This year, students are highlighting the high cost of living and lack of affordable housing, which they argue stand in stark contrast to the profits of fossil fuel billionaires. Representatives of the Universities for Climate initiative introduced the strike's program at a press conference today.
The week-long action began Friday afternoon with lectures and discussions at Palacký University in Olomouc. On Sunday, November 17, a protest march titled "End Oligarchy in Czechia" will be held in Prague, followed by a street festival on Magdaleny Rettigové Street. From Monday, November 18, to Wednesday, November 20, Brno will host a series of themed lectures, discussions, and workshops, culminating in a march through the city center.
Topics covered in the lectures will include the link between the climate crisis and the housing crisis, energy poverty, and a talk by the Tenants’ Initiative titled "We Have the Right to Housing!".
“This year, we will be more visible in the streets than in lecture halls. We will be louder than in previous years because our demands have not been met. It frustrates us that in this country, turning tons of coal into billions of crowns is prioritized over ensuring a dignified and healthy life for us and our children,” said Lucie Poláková, spokesperson for the initiative.
A Call for Justice and Systemic Change
Students argue that the current social reality falls far short of the ideals of equality and democracy celebrated on November 17. "Through this protest, Universities for Climate are appealing to the public and powerful individuals to recognize that these ideals are unattainable under the current system," said Matěj Dlab, a member of the initiative.
The Universities for Climate movement is calling for systemic changes that ensure a dignified life for everyone while remaining within the planet's ecological limits. The students believe that a small group of billionaires is shaping Czech politics for their own benefit, to the detriment of the wider population. In their official statement, they demand an end to oligarchy, which they claim allows a handful of entrepreneurs to profit from environmental destruction.
The statement also points to a deeper systemic issue underlying the climate crisis. The current economic model, based on unlimited growth on a planet with finite resources, is held responsible for today’s crises. It favors specific powerful individuals, further entrenching their dominance, the movement asserts.
Roots of the Movement and Climate Justice
Founded in 2019 as a response to the high school movement Fridays for Future, inspired by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, Universities for Climate has organized climate strikes in 2019, 2022, and 2023. This year marks the fourth such protest.
A cornerstone of the movement is the concept of climate justice, emphasizing that not everyone contributes equally to climate change, nor are its impacts felt equally. According to the initiative, those least responsible for the crisis often suffer its consequences the most.
The strikes aim to draw attention to these disparities and push for urgent action to address the interconnected challenges of the climate crisis, housing inequality, and energy poverty.
