She joined around 300 people, mostly primary and high school students from Bega and Eden, took to Littleton Gardens in Bega on Friday to demand governments declare a climate emergency.

"Not only does this create awareness, but it brings people closer as a community and closer to the issue," she said.

She said many young people feel the current federal government "doesn't have the best policies" as a basis for tackling the many social and environmental effects of a changing climate.

"Young people are talking about the government and how poorly they are combating climate change," she said.

She said criticism of the global movement, started by Swedish student Greta Thunberg last year, means people are taking notice of what young people have to say on the issue.

"It's about us having a voice," she said.

"We are aware that we drive cars, but it's about teaching people about what that is doing to the environment, which is a really good start."

Bega High School student Alice Stewart spoke to the crowd about the urgent need to act on the issue.

"When we all work together we can make a difference," she said.

Mumbulla School pupil Alina North-Andrew asked if students were taking time off school then why couldn't politicians take five minutes to listen?

"The climate will always change, but it's changing too fast," she said.

"If the climate can change then why can't we?"

Clean Energy for Eternity founder and president Matthew Nott spoke to the crowd, and said the recent federal election was "a climate election and the climate lost".

"It was a victory for denial, a victory for coal over renewables, a victory for the Murdoch press and a victory for the status-quo over a future vision for Australia," he said.

"There's a growing feeling we have to do this on our own as a community.

"There's a lot of concern about job losses, but we create more than we lose."