You’re going to be hearing the words “climate strike” a lot today. So what’s everyone talking about?

Well, thousands of Aussies are expected to leave work, school or universities – either for the day or for just an hour or two – to mark the inaugural Global Climate Strike, a movement that aims to force action on the climate crisis from governments, businesses and individuals.

Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Canberra are hosting their own #climatestrike rallies, with smaller regional protests also being held in dozens of regional cities and towns.

In total, there will be just over 100 strikes happening in Australia alone, with over 120 countries across the globe participating.

Here’s everything you need to know about the day of action.

Watch environmental activist, Greta Thunberg’s UN climate change speech. Post continues after video.

How did the global climate strike happen?

We can thank 16-year-old Swedish environmental activist, Greta Thunberg, for inspiring this international day (and in fact, a whole week around the world) of action. In August 2015, the then 15-year-old sat in front of the Riksdag (the Swedish Parliament House) every school day for three weeks as a way to campaign against the lack of government-backed environmental action.

Her protest soon went viral, and from September 8 onwards Thunberg vowed to strike every Friday, with adults and students joining her protest.

Greta Thunberg leads a school strike and sits outside a Swedish parliament building in 2018. Image: Getty.

However, today's global Climate Change Strike carries a particular sense of urgency.

This strike takes place three days out from the UN’s Emergency Climate Summit, in New York, where world leaders will discuss policy related to emissions reduction, and make financial commitments to the UN Green Climate Fund.

From an Australian perspective, it's already been confirmed that our Prime Minister Scott Morrison, will not be attending the summit, instead sending Foreign Minister Marise Payne, and the Australian ambassador for the environment, Patrick Suckling.

A second and more general strike, dubbed the Earth Strike, will be happening on September 27.

Will school students also be going on strike?

Like the first School Climate Strike which happened on November 20, 2018, many students are expected to put down their textbooks and participate in the protests.

However, PM Scott Morrison has made his personal opinion on students planning to strike, very clear.

“Each day I send my kids to school and I know other members’ kids should also go to school but we do not support our schools being turned into parliaments,” said the 51-year-old politician, addressing members of parliament in November last year.

“What we want is more learning in schools and less activism in schools.”

Swiss youth at the 2019 Youth strike 4 climate which happened in early August. Image: Getty.

Where to attend the climate strike in...

Melbourne

Treasury Gardens at 2pm.

Organisers estimate the Melbourne event will draw in the biggest crowds, and multiple tram routes have already been diverted.

VIC residents can also join protests in: Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Bendigo, Bright, Castlemaine, Echuca, Fish Creek, Geelong, Mildura, Sale, Shepparton, Traralgon, Warrnambool, Wonthaggi.

Sydney

The Domain at 12 noon.

NSW residents can also join protests in: Albury, Armidale, Bathurst, Bega, Bellingen, Bermagui, Bowral, Bowraville, Braidwood, Byron Bay, Cessnock, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Eden, Forster, Gosford, Grafton, Kempsey, Leeton, Lismore, Moruya, Mudgee, Nambucca Heads, Newcastle, Nowra, Orange, Pennant Hills, Port Macquarie, Pottsville, Springwood, Tamworth, Taree, Ulladulla, Wagga, Wollar, Wollongong.

Adelaide

Victoria Square at 12 noon.

SA residents can also join protests in: Clare, Kangaroo Island, Naracoorte, Port Lincoln.

Brisbane

Queens Gardens at 1pm.

QLD residents can also join protests in: Ayr, Atherton, Bundaberg, Cairns, Cooladdi, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Mackay, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Townsville, Whitsundays.

Darwin

Parliament at 1pm.

NT residents can also join protests in: Alice Springs, Katherine, Maningrida.

Perth

Forest Place at 11am.

WA residents can also join protests in: Albany, Broome, Bunbury, Denmark, Esperance, Geraldton, Margaret River.

Canberra

Glebe Park at 12pm.

ACT residents can also join protests in:

Hobart

Parliament at 12pm.

TAS residents can also join protests in: Burnie, Devonport, Launceston, Vasse, Wynyard.

Will you be attending a climate strike? Tell us in a comment below.