About Greta Thunberg
A Swedish environmental activist who is known for challenging world leaders to take immediate action for climate change mitigation.
Greta Thunberg is a Swedish environmental activist who is known for challenging world leaders to take immediate action for climate change mitigation. Thunberg’s activism began when she persuaded her parents to adopt lifestyle choices that reduced their carbon footprint. She initially gained notice for her straightforward approach to criticizing world leaders for their failure to take what she considers sufficient action to address the climate crisis.
In August 2018, at age 15, she started spending her school days outside the Swedish Parliament to call for stronger action on climate change by holding up a sign reading school strike for climate. Her demands were that the Swedish government reduce carbon emissions in accordance with the Paris Agreement. Eventually, other students joined her protest and together they organized a school climate strike movement under the name Fridays for Future.
Thunberg’s activism evolved from solitary protesting to taking part in demonstrations throughout Europe, making several high-profile public speeches and mobilizing her growing number of followers on social media platforms. After the December 2018 general elections, Thunberg continued to strike only on Fridays. She inspired school students across the globe to take part in student strikes. That month, more than 20,000 students had held strikes in at least 270 cities