One of life’s modern mysteries is why the media and some politicians seem to have such an issue with Greta Thunberg. Yes, she was an angry teenager, and rightly so. Because she knows her climate science, and has looked on aghast at world leaders who have left the Paris Climate Agreement, which basically will destroy the planet, by the time she is middle-aged.
While many young women are obsessed with celebrity and taking selfies, this inspirational and intelligent young women (with Asperger’s syndrome) has been responsible for almost single-handedly bringing the climate change debate to cabinet meetings, and galvanised a generation into taking peaceful action.
Against climate change which is already causing floods, wildfires, crop losses, higher bills and world hunger. Some people ‘feel tired of her warnings’. But you’ll appreciate her, if and when she saves the planet. And so will your children and grandchildren.
Daughter of a Swedish actor and opera singer (her mother sang in Eurovision!), Greta’s journey started of course, when she calmly went on ‘strike from school’ and peacefully protested outside the Swedish Parliament, which led to a worldwide ‘Fridays for a Future’ movement.
Trump and Vance have accused her of just being an irrelevance (a girl with ‘anger management issues’) while others who praise her, still don’t take any notice of her warnings. Recently, Kemi Badenoch has dismayed Teresa May, with plans to rip up all the climate work done. And Reform UK have no climate change policies at all.
Wise Words from Greta Thunberg
My message is that we’ll be watching you. This is all wrong. I shouldn’t be up there. I should be back in school. Yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you. You have stolen my dreams and my childhood, with your empty words.
Build back better. Blah, blah, blah. Green economy. Blah blah blah. Net zero by 2050. Blah blah blah. This is all we hear from our so-called leaders. People are suffering and dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. 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!
Either we prevent 1.5 degree (Celsius) of warming or we don’t. Either we avoid setting off that irreversible chain reaction beyond human control or we don’t. Either we choose to go on as a civilisation or we don’t. That is as black or white as it gets. There are no grey areas when it comes to survival.
Science Supporting Greta’s Warnings
Greta’s message is that climate change is driving freak weather like frequent heatwaves and more intense rainfall. It’s also bleaching coral reefs and trapping greenhouse gases.
Contrary to what some of the media say, Greta does not fly everywhere. She always goes by boat, lives simply (she’s vegan) and donated the prize from a peace award to environmental charities.
She wants the 9 main ways to reduce climate change to be taken seriously by governments:
- Make your voice heard (write to MPs and councillors, and use your vote).
- Eat less meat and dairy. Find plant-based recipes to start you off.
- Cut back on flying. Read tips to go greener at the airport.
- Leave the car at home. Read tips on greener transport.
- Reduce your energy use and bills.
- Respect and protect green spaces.
- Bank and invest your money responsibly.
- Cut consumption and waste.
- Talk about the changes you make!
What the Experts Say Matches Greta’s Call
What’s unbelievable in politics is that MPs and leaders get away with telling the media what they think about climate change (which is very real and serious) yet are not questioned. We need non-political climate scientists sitting alongside them, debunking the myths that they perpetuate. They need to be called out.
There is no point pursuing economic policies that destroy the planet. Because once the planet is destroyed, we’re all toast anyway. Two fans of Greta are environmental journalist George Monbiot and Sir David Attenborough (he says that what Greta has done is ‘astonishing and admirable’, achieving things that climate campaigners have failed to achieve in the last 20 years).
Are solar flares causing climate change?
This is an argument often given out by climate science deniers. In fact, NASA science says this is not correct. The sun can influence Earth’s climate, but is not responsible for warming trends in the last decades.
Listen to climate scientists, not vested interests and politicians (often funded by vested interests). Dr John Cook says that around 97% of all climate scientists say that global warming is manmade. The 3% that don’t are all funded by the oil industry.
Dr John says that climate change deniers use 5 techniques to try to dupe others:
- Fake experts
- Logical fallacies
- Impossible expectations
- Cherry picking
- Conspiracy theories
Rainforest Alliance has a good article on the 6 main arguments given by climate science denials, along with the scientific responses:
Cold winters means there’s no global warming.
Climate and weather are not the same thing. Climate refers to long-term trends like droughts and floods.
Climate change is natural
Although history has had warm and cool periods, the present situation is not natural, humans are now emitting greenhouse gases at a fair higher rate than anytime in history.
Scientists differ in their beliefs.
No, they don’t. Around 97% of climate science all say that humans are creating global warming.
Plants and animals can adapt.
Climate change is now so rapidly, that other creatures don’t have time to adapt. Global warming is affecting migration, breeding and survival.
Climate change is good for us.
Some people even say warmer weather is good for holidays and tourism! In fact, it’s causing crop failures, droughts, floods and wildfires that are wiping out homes and livelihoods. And if you’re a climate change denier and Reform UK supporter, know that the effects of climate change in other countries will lead to mass migrations, and likely more ‘people on boats’.
Nothing can be done – it’s too late.
Almost, but not quite. Watered-down policies of conventional political parties means it will be too late. That’s why we need super-powers like Greta, who tell the truth to big power, and perhaps there is still hope.
