The following op-ed was written by Cardinal John and originally posted on Stuff.co.nz.

We have provided an excerpt below.

OPINION: Young people are protesting on Friday about the slow pace of international action on climate change. We need to listen to them.

Many decision-makers in the governments, businesses, community organisations and churches of the world won’t be alive to experience the impact of climate change. But today’s school students will be.

They will have to live with the consequences if we over consume the world’s resources now, and if we do not find ways to keep temperature increases in check.