Greta Thunberg

Catalyzed global youth climate activism

Greta Thunberg, born in 2003 in Sweden, became the face of a generational movement against climate inaction. Her solo "School Strike for Climate" outside the Swedish Parliament in 2018 ignited Fridays for Future, mobilizing millions of students worldwide.

Thunberg's blunt speeches at the UN Climate Action Summit ("How dare you!") and Davos went viral, forcing politicians to address ecological crises. She popularized the term "climate strike" and emphasized data from the IPCC, demanding adherence to the 1.5°C warming limit.

Despite her Asperger's syndrome, she sailed across the Atlantic in 2019 to attend summits carbon-neutrally. Her influence led to legislative changes, including the EU's Green Deal. Critics question her policy depth, but supporters hail her for shifting public discourse. The Time Person of the Year 2019 recognition cemented her role as a catalyst for intergenerational justice.

Thunberg's activism proves that individual conviction can pressure institutions, making her a defining voice in 21st-century environmentalism.