Dozens of mainly young Sarajevans joined on Friday the Global Climate Change Strike, trying to draw attention to the dangers of climate change and to urge the United Nations to declare a climate crisis.

The gathering, under the name ‘The Earth belongs to children – children are the future of this planet’, was organised by the ‘Climate Save Bosnia’ organisation.

Holding banners that read “Greta, you are not alone,” the youth sent its support to globally-known young climate activist Greta Thunberg, who will be addressing the United Nations summit on climate change.

Other banners read: “The dinosaurs also thought they had more time,” or “Don’t you feel sorry for your grandchildren?”

“A global week-long strike prompted by the UN summit on September 23rd is starting today. It is led by Greta Thunberg and we are demanding a state of emergency, a climate crisis to be declared,” said Maida Sabeta from Climate Save Bosnia.

Bosnia was last spring hit by three floods and has found itself on the list of record heat waves, she said.

“So not only do we feel them, but we are contributing to climate changes. We have been declared one of the most polluted countries in the world by many reports. Once we were the most air-polluted,” she said.

Travelling from the northern town of Doboj to the capital, one passes by industrial facilities that create a constant smog along the way, she said.

The protesters will demand Bosnia’s institutions to pay more attention and stop the construction of more thermo-electric plants and switch to green energy.

A petition has been launched with the request for a new environment protection law to be passed in the Federation part of the country.

“That law is in the procedure for the past seven years. Just that tells you how our government is functioning,” Sabeta said.