Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he will take part in a climate action march led by Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg -- as the environment emerges as a key election issue.
His main rival Conservative leader Andrew Scheer will be campaigning in Vancouver, but Friday's rally in Montreal is expected to draw local Tory candidates as well as Trudeau.
Trudeau, who faces elections October 21, paddled up in a canoe Thursday in Sudbury, Ontario to make announce he would be marching in Montreal with thousands of other Canadians to "fight for the environment."
"There has been an extraordinary amount of mobilization by young people and by Canadians across this country and indeed around the world calling for real action on climate change," he said.
The Montreal event coincides with similar so-called "climate strikes" around the globe.
Schools, colleges and universities have suspended classes for the day, and the city government has encouraged staff to take the day off.
Thunberg, 16, on Monday accused world leaders in a rousing "How Dare You?" speech at the UN climate summit of betraying her generation.
"You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words," she thundered, visibly angry and close to tears.
The teen has spurred millions of youths to protest, drawn by her steely determination despite her years.
Organisers said Thunberg also will take aim at airlines' skyrocketing CO2 emissions in a speech outside the UN aviation agency in Montreal, which is holding its annual conference.
The International Civil Aviation Organization's 193 member states this week are taking stock of the implementation of a climate plan unveiled at its last general assembly in 2016.
Aviation accounts for about two percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the ICAO.
Under its so-called Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), participating airlines are expected to stabilize their CO2 emissions by 2020, and buy offsetting credits thereafter if they exceed set limits.
Thunberg sailed across the Atlantic for the UN climate summit in New York specifically to avoid flying.​
