Greta Thunberg is a sixteen-year-old
Swedish environmental activist
who is presently the most famous voice for this cause.
She is credited with raising global awareness of the risks
posed by climate change in a blunt and no-nonsense manner.
She does that by holding
political leaders accountable for this ‘climate crisis’ because of their lack of action
over the issue.
What started it all?
The year 2018 turned out to be the hottest
in Sweden in more than 250 years.
This provoked Greta to do something on the issue.
She did that by taking time off school
and sitting daily on a protest holding a sign outside Sweden’s Parliament
.
Her primary demand was that the Swedish govt. reduces carbon emissions
in accordance with the Paris Agreement.
An Unprecedented effect
Greta’s actions inspired other students who also started similar protests in their own communities.
Together,
they organized a school climate strike movement under the name ‘Fridays for Future.’
After Thunberg addressed the 2018 U.N Climate Change Conference, student strikes have taken place every week
around the world.
In 2019, there have been two coordinated multi-city protests
involving over one million pupils each.
In fact, media has described
her impact on the world stage as the “Greta Thunberg effect.”
No shortage of Accolades
In April 2019, Time magazine named Thunberg as one of the 100 most influential people
of 2019.
In May, the magazine featured her on its cover and named her a ‘next generation leader.’
In June 2019, Amnesty International gave Greta, their most prestigious award;
the Ambassador of Conscience Award.
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