The joint appeal has so far been signed by 179 organisations and more than 8,000 individuals, including the Slovenian Beekepers' Association, Pensioners' Association (ZDUS), Friends of the Youth Association (ZPMS), Municipalities' Association and Youth for Climate Justice.

Addressing reporters in Ljubljana on Wednesday, Katja Huš from Greenpeace Slovenija said the signatories shared the belief that countries must do more to achieve climate goals than what they are planning to do now. "The next ten years will be of essence," she said.

She said that time for excuse had run out. "There's no more time to shift responsibility onto the next government and the next minister; action is needed right now," Huš said, adding that politicians would "not budge" without public pressure.

Action on climate change is also urged by healthcare workers with the secretary general of the nurses' trade union Marjan Meglič pointing to indirect impact of climate change on the healthcare system.

"There are ever more heat waves, affecting in particular the older population. We've noticed an increase in the incidence of skin conditions, in particular skin cancer, and increased occurrence of respiratory ailments, in particular in cities," he said.

ZDUS head Janez Sušnik, speaking on behalf of pensioners, expressed concern about increased traffic and declining quality of water. "Even while building the Šoštanj thermal plant we knew about the problem of climate change. We fear that we'll need to wear face masks to go about in town in Slovenia as well."

Dora Smole from the Youth for Climate Justice said that more than half a year since the group organised the first series of climate strikes in Slovenia they were still waiting for answers to their calls. "Climate documents that are being prepared have nothing to do with responsible politics," she said.

Fed up with waiting, the youth will take to the streets again next Friday. "Dealing with climate change is becoming the priority of a growing section of society, so it is high time it became the priority for democratically elected representatives," said Smole.

"One of children's rights is to live in a clean environment," noted ZPMS secretary-general Breda Krašna. She said that the young will present the prime minister with 3,000 cards with drawings expressing their thoughts, wishes and appeals.