Davos climate awareness only first step: Greta Thunberg

Climate activist Greta Thunberg, 17, told the world’s political and business leaders on Tuesday (January 21) that the global movement sparked by her school strike was only the very beginning in the fight against global warming and much more has to be done.

While speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Swedish teenager said, “It wasn’t only me, but all these young people pushing together to form these alliances.”

“People are more aware now, climate, and environment are a hot topic now. But the struggle against climate change will need more general awareness,” she told other young activists.

Thunberg said, “This is just the very beginning,” adding that everyone needs to listen more to the science regarding climate change and the heating of the planet.

Also read: How dare you give us false hopes? Greta asks leaders at UN climate change meet

“Without treating it as a real crisis we cannot solve it,” she said.

Earlier, the environmental activist, known for her vociferous campaigns against climate change lashed out at world leaders gathered at the UN climate change summit, in New York, asking them “how dare” they talk about “money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth” when they have failed to address climate change.

“We are in the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth – how dare you!” she said, addressing world leaders at the summit.

“You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. I shouldn’t be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean. Yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you?” she asked.

Also read: Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg is TIME’s 2019 Person of the Year