South Coast primary and high school students will cut class on Friday, united by a desire to combat government inaction on climate change.
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Local students taking part in the Global School Strikes for Climate will meet in Nowra at 10am or Ulladulla at 12.40pm.
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Some high school students will carpool there and parents of younger students have offered to drive them there, and back to school once it's done.
"A lot of parents want to stand side by side with their children, the students are asking for everyone to come out with them and be there," local organiser Bonnie Cassen said.
All students will be offered the opportunity to voice their opinions - a number of Year 10 and 11 students have offered to lead proceedings, and there will be an open mic.
Kiama Greens Candidate and Shoalhaven Councillor Nina Digiglio, Shoalhaven mayor Amanda Findley and Shoalhaven Councillor Kaye Gartner have thrown their support behind students who plan on attending the upcoming events.
Cr Digiglio will attend the Nowra strike, to be held at Moorhouse Park, and Crs Findley and Gartner will go to the rally at Ulladulla High School.
"The state government has let us down on all fronts when it comes to climate action," Cr Digiglio said.
"NSW generates 81 per cent of our electricity from coal which is the highest in the country. New, weakened land-clearing laws are a major climate change contributor. Almost all new state planning laws ignore the need for climate change mitigation and adaption. Even the requirement of councils to plan for set sea level rise benchmarks has been removed by this government.
"It's no wonder that these students have lost faith and are taking to the streets to protest and I encourage all school students and parents to join them."
While schools brace for an exodus of students, a NSW Education Department spokesperson said they will not be lenient on students who wish to strike on Friday.
"While the NSW Department of Education understands some students are passionate about this topic, all students who are enrolled at school are expected to attend that school whenever instruction is provided," the spokesperson said.
"Any student not in classes on a school day will be marked absent and may be subject to the school’s disciplinary code."
Cr Digiglio said it was well within a student's right to leave school for a protest.
"The government tells our students to go back to school and learn but how can they learn and feel empowered in a world where they can’t see a future?" Cr Digiglio said.
"Taking action and striking to have their voice heard is a democratic right that applies to everyone irrespective of their age."
For more details, visit the South Coast Global Climate Strike Facebook page.
