Finally, people and, most importantly, world leaders seem to be starting to take seriously the issue of climate change. Or, at least, the discussion around this problem is more heated than ever. This could be caused by the fact that climate change consequences are becoming more and more obvious. However, it is important to give credit where credit is due. There are people who, with their actions, have brought the world’s attention on this pressing issue. More specifically, one very young person: Greta Thunberg.
This Swedish girl, born in 2003, at the age of 15 started striking to bring adults’ attention to the issue of climate change and to urge them to do something about it. Thanks to social media, the young climate activist became famous worldwide. Between late 2018 and 2019, she has inspired young people around the world to strike for stronger actions to fight climate change. Besides, she has boldly spoken in front of world leaders. She has urged them to take proper and immediate action to stop climate change to ensure that her generation and those to come will have a future on this planet.
However, her courage and her impact have not spared her criticism. Her critics are mostly from “white middle-aged men from the right of the political spectrum” as remarked by Tanja Bueltman, a Professor of History and Faculty Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor at Northumbria University. Most of the comments directed at the young climate activist try to undermine her credibility by focusing on her mental health and her young age. In fact, she suffers from certain diseases, such as Asperger’s.
Despite this, Greta does not stop her crusade to save the planet. And she has always done this by first changing her habits. She and her family are vegan. Since she started her campaign she has avoided traveling by airplane to reduce her and her family’s carbon footprint.
Greta represents the young people of today and future generations. She is a heroine fighting to ensure that she and the generations to come will have a safe place to live in. She is not afraid of the barriers she has to face, of the oppositions of those who try not to see what is really happening to the Earth. The message she tries to deliver should convince people around the world that their pressure on politicians is essential to slow down climate change and prevent its negative consequences on our planet.