CANBERRA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Australia's acting Prime Minister (PM) has dismissed hundreds of thousands of climate demonstrators as "absolutely ridiculous."

More than 200,000 Australians took to the streets around the country on Friday to protest the government's inaction on climate change, according to local media.

Responding to the demonstration on Sunday, acting PM Michael McCormack told protesters to "go and plant a tree", saying it would accomplish more than going on the streets.

"Rather than go down streets and cheer and scream and carry on, what they should have done is actually, every one of them, plant a tree and you know what, then look after it," he told reporters in the Northern Territory (NT).

"How much better would Australia's climate have been today and going forward into the future had each and every one of those protesters -- from small country towns to the capital cities -- had they all gone and planted a tree instead of yelling at the top of their lungs."

The protesters, a majority of whom were students who walked out of classes, called on the government to commit to no new coal, gas or oil projects, 100 percent renewable energy generation and exports by 2030 and funding for "a just transition and job creation for all fossil-fuel industry workers and communities."

McCormack questioned how many people would have turned up if it was held on a Saturday, saying that most of the students who attended "didn't even know what they were protesting about."

"Having a climate protest on the busiest business day and the busiest school day of the week I think is not appropriate," he said.

"What they should have done and what their teachers should have told them -- go and plant a tree and then water it, look after it, protect your planet."

As deputy PM, McCormack is the acting PM while Scott Morrison is in the U.S. for an official state visit. Enditem

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