CLIMATE campaigners are gearing up for two forthcoming events to raise awareness of their cause.

The Isle of Wight Extinction Rebellion group is preparing to gather in the centre of Newport for a day of action on Saturday, March 2, to demand that governments – local, national and global – take urgent action to tackle the climate crisis.

While there was no co-ordinated strike on the Island on Friday, for the Youth Strike 4 Climate, the group is planning to hold a Rally for Youth on the next one which is being mobilised globally — on Friday, March 15. Protesters will meet from 3pm to 5pm, in St Thomas Square, Newport.

A spokesperson for the IW Extinction rebellion said: "Councils across the country from Scarborough to Cornwall have declared a state of Climate Emergency. Many, such as Bristol, have committed to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2030.

"We urge the Isle of Wight Council to join them and take a moral, ethical and economic stance to protect Islanders and commit to urgent measures to confront climate change."

The focus of the day of action on March 2 will be the wider ecological emergency. Campaigners can wear black armbands and will be carrying banners, placards and a coffin — standing in silence to signify the impact of increasing global temperatures on the earth’s ecosystems.

Liz Cooke, from St Lawrence, said: "It's so vital for our children and grandchildren that we all do our bit and take a stand to pressurise political leaders to protect the planet.

"The first gathering in January was such a positive and peaceful day, and the whole family is really looking forward to meeting up with more Islanders to demonstrate next month."

Supporters will meet in St Thomas’s Square at 12.30pm for the rally, followed by a picnic in Newport. For more details, email xriw.info@gmail.com.

Pupils at Cowes Enterprise College designed their own lesson on climate change on Friday.

The college played its own part in spreading a message of social awareness when sixth form pupils designed a lesson delivered to every class.

Pupils wrote protest letters to local politicians, including Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely and Vix Lowthion, the Green Party's spokesperson for education.

Head boy and head girl, Kieran Wetherick and Beth Pitts, welcomed Ms Lowthion to the academy to hand over around 1,000 letters, all addressed to the Green Party and voicing the environmental concerns of pupils.

Rachel Kitley, college principal, said: "I am so proud to see such an incredible display of democracy in action at our academy.

"The lessons, delivered to every single pupil across the academy, were a brilliant way for pupils to show their social awareness and learn about what is such a timely and crucial issue.

"Personally delivering hundreds of letters, written with such passion, about the environment was a great way for us to show local and national politicians our own way of making a difference. We look forward to creating similar opportunities in the near future."