He continued: “France is heavily invested in the fight against global warming. Attacking climate champions is not useful. Of course we can do more, we always want to do more, but President Emmanuel Macron has already done a lot.” Greta and 15 other climate activists filed a complaint with the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child on Monday, saying that world leaders’ inaction on the climate crisis has violated children’s right. The complaint accused five countries – Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany and Turkey – of being aware of the impact of their carbon emissions on the climate and doing nothing to curb it.
“We owe it to today’s youths [to combat climate change] …. but we cannot get stuck in a vicious circle of finger-pointing. Enough with the angst-filled speeches,” M Blanquer continued, as he warned Greta against baselessly accusing states of passivity in the face of climate change.
M Blanquer added while Greta was fighting for a noble cause, her gloomy outlook on the situation risked “creating a generation of depressed people”.
The challenge is to go beyond simply decrying climate inaction and “taking concrete action,” he continued.
His comments echoed those of M Macron, who denounced earlier in the day Greta’s “radical position” on climate change.
“I do not believe that the French government is blocking” climate efforts, M Macron told Europe 1 radio when asked to comment on the complaint filed by Greta.
On Monday afternoon, Greta lashed out at world leaders as she addressed a UN climate summit in New York, accusing them of betraying her generation by failing to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
“You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words, yet I’m one of the lucky ones. People are suffering, people are dying, entire ecosystems are collapsing.
“We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is the money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!”
“You are failing us,” she concluded. “But the young people are starting to understand your betrayal.
“The eyes of all future generations are upon you. And if you choose to fail us, we will never forgive you.”