About Greta Thunberg’s speeches
What can we learn from Greta Thunberg’s speeches?
1. We are running out of time, but it is not too late to save the planet
During her Davos speech, Greta said: “Yes, we are failing, but there is still time to turn everything around. We can still fix this.
“We still have everything in our own hands. But unless we recognise the overall failures of our current systems, we most probably don’t stand a chance.”
2. The decision to adopt clean air and eco-friendly policies is perhaps more simple than we thought
Greta has always been open about her Asperger’s syndrome, which she believes helps her commit to her cause and see things more simply.
Speaking to The New Yorker, Greta said: “I see the world a bit different, from another perspective.
“I have a special interest. It’s very common that people on the autism spectrum have a special interest.”
Her outlook on climate change became clear in her speech at Davos, when she said: “You say nothing in life is black or white. But that is a lie. A very dangerous lie. Either we prevent 1.5C of warming or we don’t.”
3. We need to start taking climate change more seriously
Speaking to the BBC during her first school strike in September, Greta said she hoped her efforts would attract media attention.
The activist added she wanted people to “open their eyes, see the crisis and treat it like a crisis, and do something about it.”
4. Greta Thunberg’s determination knows no bounds
When Greta first went on strike outside the Swedish parliament, she was moved on by police because protests on the premises are not allowed.
She later found another spot nearby to continue her protest but received further complaints.
Speaking to the BBC, she said she would probably be called to a hearing about her protesting, but added “I’m not bothered about it.”
During her speech to world leaders at the UN summit in December, she also accused them of “behaving like children.”
5. “You are never too small to make a difference”
Words spoken by the climate activist herself at the UN summit in December prove that every little change one person makes will help protect our environment.
Since her strike action gained global attention, Greta has inspired students around the world to follow suit, in the School Strike 4 Climate Action.
In November, thousands of students halfway around the world in Australia took the day off school to attend protests calling on the government to take action on climate change.