Students skip classes for something they say is more important, action on climate change. Children, teens, and some parents turned out in more than 100 countries. It's part of a series of demonstrations called "Fridays for Future". German students have been at the forefront of the movement. CGTN's Natalie Carney talks with some in Munich.

Cheered on by fellow students, thousands took to the streets of Munich in the pouring rain to fight for their future, arguing that governments are failing to adopt ambitious climate change policies.

CARMAN NOVA MUNICH SCHOOL STUDENT "If the temperature rises over two degrees, the Arctic will melt, the glaciers will melt and there are going to be huge water problems. And if the climate rises, there are going to be droughts all over the world. People are not going to be able to plant food and there are going to be floods. And people will have to move homes. It's the consequence of climate change; they will be climate refugees."

REBECCA LANG MUNICH SCHOOL STUDENT "It's ruining our future. If we don't act now, it'll be too late."

For months, students across Germany have been ditching school every Friday to take a stand against what they see as slow political action toward climate change. Teachers even incorporated the demonstration into the day's lessons. Yet not everyone is in support of the students, many of whom are not old enough to vote. Some conservative lawmakers have criticized the idea of kids playing hooky from school no matter what the reason, calling the students "naive".

ELENA MUNICH SCHOOL STUDENT "We are told to go to school to study for our future, but our future is not going to be great if we keep destroying our climate like we are doing."

NATALIE CARNEY MUNICH "Despite the weather, many of these students believe that demonstrating during school hours is the only way they will be heard. And they are getting a lot of support, not only from teachers but parents and even grandparents."

PETER GUNTER FATHER "I have two daughters and the future world will be theirs and my generation damaged this planet so that's the reason why I am here to take part."

Natalie: "What do you think about kids coming out of school on a Friday to take part in this demonstration?"

PETER GUNTER FATHER "I think it is very important that they break the rules because otherwise everyone would say they are demonstrating on Saturday, it doesn't matter."

Seventy-five-year-old Unter Wagner says she's fighting for her five children and 10 grandchildren.

UNTER WAGNER GRANDMOTHER "Germany tells us it's a good idea to burn a lot of coal. Yes, we are lied to. We are told all the time that we are protected but in reality they do nothing."

Germany's coal commission has recommended to end the use of coal by 2038, yet it's up to the country's lawmakers to decide how that's done. The governing coalition is also expected to introduce a new Climate Action Law this spring, yet many details of the legislation are still being debated. Friday's "Global Strike for the Future" took place in more than 13-hundred cities worldwide, 200 of which were in Germany. Natalie Carney, CGTN, Munich.