Greta Thunberg

Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg (born 3 January 2003) is a Swedish activist known for urging governments to take action on climate change and social issues. She became well-known around the world in 2018 when she was just 15 years old. That year, she started a solo school strike outside the Swedish parliament. Her protest inspired many others to join in, leading to the worldwide Fridays for Future movement.

As the school strike movement grew, Thunberg became an international figure. She gave powerful speeches, joined climate demonstrations across Europe and other places, and spoke to political leaders. Her activism has been featured in news media around the globe. She has also spoken out for human rights and global justice, showing support for Ukraine, Palestine, Armenia, and Cuba. In 2025, she joined a humanitarian flotilla heading to the Gaza Strip, which drew attention and discussion worldwide.

Many people believe Thunberg has made a big difference. They say she has helped more young people care about the environment and has brought extra attention to climate issues. This is sometimes called the "Greta effect." Others have disagreed with her methods or how she speaks about these topics. No matter what people think, Thunberg says she bases her actions on scientific research and plans for the future. She has received many honors for her work, including being named one of _Time's 100 Most Influential People and being chosen as Person of the Year in 2019.

Early life

Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg was born on 3 January 2003, in Stockholm, Sweden, to opera singer Malena Ernman and actor Svante Thunberg. She first learned about climate change when she was eight years old and felt very worried about why little was being done. This led to her struggling with speaking and eating at a young age. She was later diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, obsessive–compulsive disorder, and selective mutism.

Thunberg began challenging her family to live in ways that helped the environment, such as becoming vegan and giving up flying. Her efforts inspired changes in her family’s lifestyle. She believes these changes gave her hope that she could make a difference. Her family’s story is shared in the book Scenes from the Heart.

Activism

In August 2018, Greta Thunberg began a solo school strike outside the Swedish parliament, demanding that the government take action on climate change. This sparked the worldwide Fridays for Future movement, inspiring students globally to join similar strikes. Thunberg's activism quickly gained international attention through her powerful speeches and social media presence.

Thunberg continued to speak out on climate issues, participating in major protests and events across Europe and beyond. She has addressed world leaders at forums like the United Nations, urging urgent action to combat climate change. Her efforts have made her one of the most prominent voices in the global climate movement, inspiring many young people to become activists for environmental justice.

Position on climate change

Greta Thunberg believes that global warming is a serious crisis that could threaten the future of humanity. She says that older generations have caused changes to the Earth's climate that harm younger people and those in the Global South, who have done the least to cause the problem. Thunberg speaks strongly to leaders, saying they need to take bigger steps to reduce emissions and protect the planet.

She has criticized international agreements for not going far enough and has called for immediate action to cut emissions to zero. Thunberg says that leaders often set distant goals but avoid taking real steps now. She has also spoken out against events like the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, saying they often lead to little real change. She believes that public pressure and strong action are needed to solve the climate crisis.

Public response and impact

Many academics signed a letter in February 2019 to support Thunberg and the school strikes for climate change. This support showed a strong contrast to the criticism she often faced from politicians.

Thunberg has spoken with many world leaders, but she has said that none have truly impressed her. Some leaders, like New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, have endorsed the school strikes. However, Thunberg has criticized leaders for not taking real action to reduce emissions. During the 2020 United States presidential election, several candidates, including Kamala Harris, Beto O’Rourke, and Bernie Sanders, expressed support for her. Some politicians, including Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, have criticized Thunberg, sometimes in unfair ways. Despite this, many people admire her for bringing attention to the climate crisis.

Thunberg’s activism has had a big effect around the world. People often call this “the Greta effect.” Her speeches and actions have raised public awareness about climate change, especially among young people. After her speeches, many politicians have said they need to act more quickly on climate issues. In Europe, Green parties gained more support in elections, partly because of young people inspired by Thunberg. Books about climate change for children became more popular, and people started searching for climate-related topics online more often.

Thunberg also started a movement called “flight shame,” encouraging people to travel by train instead of flying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In Sweden, this led to a drop in domestic air travel and an increase in rail use. However, some people have made harmful and unfair comments about Thunberg online and in media. Despite these challenges, Thunberg continues to speak out about the need to protect the environment.

In popular culture and art

Greta Thunberg has inspired many artists, writers, and musicians around the world. A book called Greta and the Giants, written by Zoë Tucker and Zoe Persico, tells a story inspired by her life. Artists have painted large murals of her in cities like San Francisco and Bristol. She was also featured on the cover of Time magazine and British Vogue.

Some musicians have used parts of her speeches in their songs and performances. For example, the band The 1975 included her voice in one of their tracks, and a documentary called I Am Greta followed her journey as an activist. These creative works help share her message about protecting our planet with many people.

Main article: I Am Greta

Honours and awards

Greta Thunberg has received many honours and awards for her work in raising awareness about climate change. In 2018, she won a climate change essay competition by Svenska Dagbladet and was named one of Time magazine’s 25 most influential teens. She has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize several times and received the Ambassador of Conscience Award from Amnesty International.

She has been honoured with numerous other awards, including Time’s Person of the Year in 2019—the youngest ever to receive this title—and several honorary doctorates from universities around the world. Several species, like a beetle and a spider, have even been named after her.

Works

See also: Category:Works by Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg has created several works to share her message about climate change. In 2018, she published Scenes from the Heart with her sister, father, and mother. In 2019, she released a book titled No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference, which collects her speeches and donates all earnings to charity.

She has also given powerful talks, including one for TED called The Disarming Case to Act Right Now on Climate Change. In 2021, she co-authored Our House Is on Fire: Scenes of a Family and a Planet in Crisis with her family members. Most recently, in 2022, she published The Climate Book, which explores many aspects of the climate crisis.