GUEST: Sven Harmeling, CARE’s Global Policy Lead on Climate Change and Resilience.

BACKGROUND: Friday's global climate strike is timed to come just ahead of a major United Nations climate meeting.

On September 23rd at the UN headquarters in New York City, country representatives will make their pledges to curb carbon emissions.

To his credit, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterrez, has decided to exclude from presentations those nations building new coal plants such as Japan, South Korea, and South Africa.

Additionally, the US will be left out because of its undermining of the Paris Accord,

Brazil because of President Jair Bolsonaro's assault on the Amazon rain forest, and Saudi Arabia for its relentless promotion of petroleum.

Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg will address the UN General Assembly and is leading the New York climate strike.

Just days ago she testified in front of several Senate and House panels alongside American youths about the importance of taking climate action.

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