STUDENTS staged sit-down protests outside schools across Britain today to demand an end to oil and gas extraction from the North Sea.

The protests were organised by Students for Survival, a new group committed to direct action to stop climate change.

Regular school protests are planned for every Monday to demand the government stop granting licences for new North Sea oil and gas projects.

The school protests coincided with the release of a damning report on global warming and its effects from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Alex, a 16-year-old school student who staged a sit-down at his school in south London, said: “Another day, another IPCC report warning of huge danger ahead and still governments are not acting. 

“It makes it even more urgent that the government puts an end to new North Sea oil and gas and does everything it can to reduce demand for fossil fuels. 

“We can’t carry on burning oil and gas and expecting we can solve the problem later. We need to stop now.”

Tamara, aged 14 from north London, said: “The climate crisis is already here and is ruining the lives of millions of people through drought and famine in places like Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen and Madagascar — and it’s only going to get worse. 

“Why are we still hooked on fossil fuels? They are directly responsible.”

Hannah, aged 17 from south London, said: “Young people have not been listened to. We’ve been speaking out about climate collapse, turning up for marches, signing petitions and still not enough is being done.”

The group is planning joint actions with Youth Climate Swarm, Just Stop Oil, Extinction Rebellion, Insulate Britain and others.