Greta Thunberg: the story of a young activist inspiring millions
10 june 2025 в 19:28
Greta Thunberg, 22 years old, has quickly become one of the most influential activists of our time. The young adult woman is the leader of a passionate movement to save the Earth with a simple goal: to wake up world leaders and adopt policies aimed at combating climate change before it’s too late. Learn more about this young woman who inspires students and adults around the world to strike, protest, and get involved in various causes.
Greta began sitting outside the Swedish parliament alone in August 2018, when she was just 15 years old. Armed with a sign that read «School strike for climate», - Greta skipped school every Friday to urge her government to take stronger action on climate change. Rumors of Greta’s movement began to spread, and soon other students started striking in their own communities.
Greta and other students continued to skip classes on Fridays to protest outside their government buildings, eventually organizing a school climate movement called «Fridays for Future». After Greta’s powerful speech at the UN Climate Change Conference in 2018, the number of student strikes with similar views rapidly increased. «Our leaders are acting like children», - she said. The global climate strike in 2019 united millions of students around the world.
Greta set off from Plymouth, England to New York in August 2019 on a 15-day journey. The teenager, who refuses to fly due to carbon emissions, completed her journey on a 60-foot racing yacht equipped with solar panels and underwater turbines. The sail on the carbon-neutral yacht was adorned with the words «UNITE BEHIND THE SCIENCE». After participating in the Global Climate Strike and the UN Climate Action Summit, Greta stayed in the Americas for nine months, heading to Santiago, Chile for the COP 25 climate conference.
Greta was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and selective mutism when she was 11 years old, after becoming depressed and refusing to speak or eat. Although Greta acknowledged that her diagnosis limited her in the past, she no longer sees it that way. She wrote on Twitter, in the middle of her transatlantic voyage: «When haters criticize you for your looks and differences, it means they have nowhere else to go. And then you know you’re winning! I have Asperger’s and that means I’m sometimes a bit different from the norm. And — under the right circumstances — being different is a superpower. #aspiepower».
Greta criticized world leaders during a stunning speech at the UN, which was met with loud applause and praise. «You come to us for hope. How dare you. You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words», - she said angrily, on the verge of tears. «You are failing us. 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. Right here, right now — this is where we draw the line. The world is waking up, and change is coming, whether you like it or not».
Some conservatives and climate change deniers did not understand her speech. Laura Ingraham of Fox News compared Greta to one of the Children of the Corn. And President Donald Trump tweeted, which many interpreted as sarcastic: «She seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see!»
Greta began sitting outside the Swedish parliament alone in August 2018, when she was just 15 years old. Armed with a sign that read «School strike for climate», - Greta skipped school every Friday to urge her government to take stronger action on climate change. Rumors of Greta’s movement began to spread, and soon other students started striking in their own communities.
Greta and other students continued to skip classes on Fridays to protest outside their government buildings, eventually organizing a school climate movement called «Fridays for Future». After Greta’s powerful speech at the UN Climate Change Conference in 2018, the number of student strikes with similar views rapidly increased. «Our leaders are acting like children», - she said. The global climate strike in 2019 united millions of students around the world.
Greta set off from Plymouth, England to New York in August 2019 on a 15-day journey. The teenager, who refuses to fly due to carbon emissions, completed her journey on a 60-foot racing yacht equipped with solar panels and underwater turbines. The sail on the carbon-neutral yacht was adorned with the words «UNITE BEHIND THE SCIENCE». After participating in the Global Climate Strike and the UN Climate Action Summit, Greta stayed in the Americas for nine months, heading to Santiago, Chile for the COP 25 climate conference.
Greta was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and selective mutism when she was 11 years old, after becoming depressed and refusing to speak or eat. Although Greta acknowledged that her diagnosis limited her in the past, she no longer sees it that way. She wrote on Twitter, in the middle of her transatlantic voyage: «When haters criticize you for your looks and differences, it means they have nowhere else to go. And then you know you’re winning! I have Asperger’s and that means I’m sometimes a bit different from the norm. And — under the right circumstances — being different is a superpower. #aspiepower».
Greta criticized world leaders during a stunning speech at the UN, which was met with loud applause and praise. «You come to us for hope. How dare you. You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words», - she said angrily, on the verge of tears. «You are failing us. 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. Right here, right now — this is where we draw the line. The world is waking up, and change is coming, whether you like it or not».
Some conservatives and climate change deniers did not understand her speech. Laura Ingraham of Fox News compared Greta to one of the Children of the Corn. And President Donald Trump tweeted, which many interpreted as sarcastic: «She seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see!»
© Puhova Marina
