Dutch students march for better climate policies

In this February 25, 2008 file photo the tower of a church is pictured between the smoke billowing chimneys of the brown coal power plant Frimmersdorf in Grevenbroich near Duesseldorf, Germany. Climate change experts have been charting ways  in which the world can curb greenhouse gas emissions that scientists say are overheating the planet. (AP File Photo/Frank Augstein)

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Thousands of students are skipping classes to join a march in support of more ambitious climate policies in the Netherlands.

The demonstration Thursday by Dutch students follows similar marches in recent weeks in neighboring Belgium that have drawn thousands of protesters.

Organizers said they want to send a wake-up call to politicians in the Netherlands who are wrestling with how best to rein in greenhouse gas emissions.

The Dutch Environmental Assessment Agency said in a report last month a court-set target of reducing emissions by 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2020 is “out of reach.”

A group of about 350 scientists and researchers published an open letter in support of the march, saying it is “high time for tough measures to quickly and drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” /kga