Greta Thunberg has captured the attention of many, delivering a damning speech aimed at world leaders at the UN Climate Action Summit on Monday. The 16-year-old held back tears as she spoke, saying: ”You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. And yet I’m one of the lucky ones. People are suffering. People are dying.”
Who is Greta Thunberg?
Greta is just 16-years-old, but is one of the most prominent figures to speak out on climate change in recent years.
She rose to public attention in August 2018, when aged 15 she took time off school to demonstrate outside parliament in her native Sweden to call for more action on climate change.
Her speeches aimed at world leaders have divided opinion for many, with some saying she has been used as a “political pawn”.
Psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg said he was extremely concerned “about her going the same way as child TV stars” and that she could “burn out”.
He said: ‘I’m not a climate change denier, I actually think we do need to be doing more about saving the planet.
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“I just worry about the fact we use a kid like this, who arguably should be getting treatment because she’s said she’s had anorexia, said she’s had Asperger’s and said she’s battled depression.
“My criticism isn’t so much of her, but her parents and the climate change activists who use her shamelessly and I think that the Left can be somewhat hypocritical at times.
”He said children should be in school but are instead rallying because “they’ve been convinced the end of the world is nigh”.
The psychologist said: “She’s now put herself at the centre of worldwide either Greta-phobia or Greta-mania and I don’t think any 16-year-old girl should be.”
On Friday, September 19, around the world thousands of children did not attend school, instead choosing to protest in what was called a global climate strike.
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Who are Greta Thunberg’s parents?
Greta’s parents are Malena Ernman and Svante Thunberg, and they too are as environmentally focused as their daughter.
They have co-written a book alongside Greta and their second daughter Beata titled Our House Is On Fire: Scenes of a Family and a Planet in Crisis, which is due to be released in March 2020.
Greta’s speech at the UN has provoked a lot of reactions, both positive and negative.
US President Donald Trump has come under fire for mocking Greta on Twitter, replying to a video of her speech saying: “http://feedproxy.google.com/”She seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see!”
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Speaking to an audience of world leaders at the UN conference she said: “Entire ecosystems are collapsing.
“We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!”
“How dare you pretend that this can be solved with just business as usual and some technical solutions? With today’s emissions levels, that remaining CO2 budget will be entirely gone within less than eight and a half years.
“There will not be any solutions or plans presented in line with these figures here today, because these numbers are too uncomfortable and you are still not mature enough to tell it like it is.
“You are failing us, 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, I say: We will never forgive you.
“We will not let you get away with this. Right here, right now is where we draw the line. The world is waking up and change is coming, whether you like it or not.
At the UN Climate Action Summit, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her country would double to €4 billion (£3.5 billion) it financial commitment to fight global warming.
French President Emmanuel Macron said international organisations had pledged to release $500m (£404.60 million) in additional aid to protect tropical forests.