Laughing in the face of looming apocalypse, Friday’s climate strike brought out the best in dark Australian humour.

While many signs were deadly serious, teens are nothing if not witty and they came armed with memes and pop culture references.

Three-year-old Matilda at the climate strike in Sydney with a Wiggles sign. Photograph: supplied/First Dog on the Moon

From classic “roses are red” poems to quips such as “I’ve seen smarter cabinets in Ikea,” the hundreds of thousands of people who turned out across the country got creative.

Here are the three winners of our slogan contest #USYDSoc #GlobalClimateStrike pic.twitter.com/VEUgDuB9sr — susan banki (@susanbanki) September 20, 2019

Some referenced the prime minister’s earlier criticism that students should stay in school, returning sledges in style.

#ClimateStrike. Best sign so far, Domain bulging at the seams. pic.twitter.com/rS7JVOqByt — Christine Winter (@WinterChristine) September 20, 2019

Others drew on long memories to rework the “where the bloody hell are you” slogan Scott Morrison so kindly gifted the nation when he ran Tourism Australia, or noted the lack of jobs, beer and Engadine Maccas on a dead planet.

But the message across it all was clear: it’s up to governments to take serious action against this threat to our survival. All the keep cups in the world won’t negate the impact of new coal mines, and pretending the climate isn’t changing won’t work either.

As many a sign said: “Denial is not a policy.”

Or in the words of another, picturing ScoMo holding his infamous lump of coal: “Break up with your girlfriend. I’m bored.”

The Melbourne #ClimateStrike starts in Treasury Gardens soon. Fatima, 19: “Whatever we do in the next few months will decide what the future is going to look like.



“We can put our all in to switch to renewables and go down a greener path, or it’s going to be bad for everyone.” pic.twitter.com/JH704W6qD4 — Lisa Cox (@_LisaMCox) September 20, 2019

Lots of babies at this protest. They don’t even have jobs! #ClimateStrike pic.twitter.com/q3J3MwFYPz — Alex Lee (@alex_c_lee) September 20, 2019

Photos and great signs from the Hobart #climatestrike from Amelia Neylon (16) pic.twitter.com/l4Q2c5DMmC — Naaman Zhou (@naamanzhou) September 20, 2019

It’s a beautiful day TODAY 😀 for a #ClimateStrike

History will be made.

Don’t sit this one out.

Everyone is wanted.

Everyone is needed. #StrikeWithUs pic.twitter.com/76GpZOYMrM — School Strike 4 Climate (@StrikeClimate) September 19, 2019

Intergenerational solidarity at Melbourne’s #ClimateStrike.



About to kick off properly in 30 minutes. pic.twitter.com/o8XSITM5Cl — Benjamin Law 羅旭能 (@mrbenjaminlaw) September 20, 2019

My first sign pic of the day #climatestrike pic.twitter.com/LMcre7fzZf — Luke Henriques-Gomes (@lukehgomes) September 20, 2019