WASHINGTON – Protesters on Monday blocked major intersections in Washington to call for action against climate change. On Friday, student climate advocates held the largest climate strike in U.S. history. 

Thousands of students across the globe walked out of class to take part in Friday's strikes. This included 10-year-old Talia Shehady from DC. Before the strikes Talia sent letters to her classmates to join her. She said she’s excited for the attention the world is giving climate.

She says she’s glad presidential candidates are talking about climate more this year than in years prior. 

“I think that this many people caring about it, makes me really happy,” Talia said.

Talia's mom said her young girl is empowered and ready for change. Talia said she plans on focusing on the environment for the rest of her life. 

“Long ago we’ve made so much damage that it’s kind of hard to fix,” said Talia. “So we are doing better, but I think we need to do a lot bigger stuff if we want to save our planet.”

Talia loves animals, conservation, and clean energy. She’s already put together several successful petitions around her neighborhood for free-ranged farms and the ban of plastic use. 

“If DC bans it,” said Talia, “Maybe like they’ll see the change and maybe they’ll ban it in the USA and other places too.”

Talia marches with excitement because she knows this year is different. Climate change has become a top issue to politicians and Democratic presidential candidates. 

Billionaire and Philanthropist Tom Steyer made it out to one of the strikes in Washington.

“You guys are the climate solution for the planet,” said Steyer.

Steyer vowed to make climate the top priority. He previously launched a large nonprofit called NextGen and has donated millions to the cause. 

“In a hundred years we’re gonna look back and say 'how could those people have been so brain dead?'” Steyer said. “'That they didn’t deal with this issue when it was right in front of them.'”

Talia said she admires California where environmental and climate policies rank high on the agenda. 

“I wish DC and other states were like that too,” she said. “I want to save the animals I want to save the oceans and I want to save everything that we’ve been doing to hurt our earth and I want to help it.”

Top candidates have put out comprehensive plans. Many including, Steyer and Senator Kamala Harris, support most of the Green New Deal which calls for zeroing out emissions by 2030.