One of the about 200 students was Madelaine Woodhouse, a University of Canberra student, who travelled to the capital's inner north to show solidarity.

As one of the organisers, she said they were hoping to get at least 3.5 per cent of people out protesting. That number being what civil rights protesters found to be a good benchmark to stir change.

The protest was one of many across the country on Friday and followed a similar protest in Brisbane on Tuesday, where police made 70 arrests as protesters disrupted the Brisbane mayor's press conference.

In a report released Thursday, local time, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned temperatures over the world's land areas are warming at about twice the global rate, even expanding deserts in Australia.

It also said about a third of the world's greenhouse emissions came from the agricultural industry.

Students were planning another nationwide protest on September 20.

It was frustrating that the older generation blocking effective policy on addressing climate change was the one unlikely to see the serious effects of it, Ms Woodhouse said.

"They're worried about their quarterly returns," she said. "Climate change affects everyone."

Despite the cold and winds buffeting the university's Kambri Precinct, student Cluny Gilmour joined the crowd.

"I feel like it's a really important issue," she said.

"It's not just a phase."

The students were even joined by some of their teachers, including biology lecturer Lindell Bromham.

"We teach a class on biodiversity," Ms Bromham said.

"It's not just an academic issue."

She said it was important to give a voice to the younger generation of Australians, who would "live with the burden" of inaction on climate change.

"Extinction is forever," she said.

Speakers raised concerns about Adani's Carmichael Mine, the lack of action on climate change and even attempts to start a nuclear power plant.

One of the speakers was Tim Hollo, who recently ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Greens to take the seat of Canberra in the recent federal election.

Mr Hollo pointed to the debate around electric cars during the election.

"[It] was men in hi-vis jackets saying an electric car doesn't have the balls," Mr Hollo said.

He said male politicians were suggesting nuclear energy was the biggest form of energy, therefore the best.

In the crowd, one student called it "big dick energy".