Greta Thunberg

Over the past couple of years, I am sure that you have heard of this incredible young woman and the work she has done for this planet. At the mere age of 17, Thunberg is one of the world's most prominent climate change activists, earning her the position of 2019 Time Person of the Year. You have also most likely heard of her achievements, but I wanted to write this post because of her journey. She is truly an inspiration and role model for every young girl pursuing her passions.

"I was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, OCD and selective mutism. That basically means I only speak when I think it's necessary. Now is one of those moments" - Thunberg

Born in 2003 in Stockholm, Sweden, Thunberg first heard about climate change when she was eight years old. She did not understand why no action was being taken. When she was eleven years old, she was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and selective mutism; for over three years, she struggled with depression. However, when she started her protests, Thunberg says she views her illness as her superpower. First, Thunberg began her work in her home, lowering her family's carbon footprint by upcycling and becoming vegan. In 2018, she officially started climate strikes at her school and giving public speeches.

Thunberg decided to have climate strikes based on the actions of teen activists at the Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School after the school shooting in February of 2018. Despite no one else at her school being interested, she continued with the strike by herself. In response to the heat waves and wildfires that summer in Sweden (the hottest summer in 262 years), Thunberg sat outside the national legislature and refused to attend school until the 2018 Swedish general election in September and until the Swedish government made plans to reduce its carbon emissions. The Time Person of the Year article (linked below) goes into greater detail about the action needed to keep the global temperature under the 1.5ºC limit dictated by the Paris Climate Accord. If this is not met, over 350 million additional people will be exposed to drought, and 120 million people will go into extreme poverty by 2030.

"We showed that we are united and that we, young people, are unstoppable" - Thunberg at the UN Youth Climate Summit in 2019.

By posting her protests on social media, Thunberg quickly gained traction and recognition around the globe. After 2018, demonstrations for climate change action started taking place throughout Europe. Through her public speeches and mobilization of her followers on social media platforms, Thunberg has inspired school students to take part in student strikes across the world, now known as the "Greta Effect." Just in that month, more than 20,000 students had held strikes in at least 270 cities.

The work Thunberg has accomplished over just these past couple of years is amazing, and I have only touched the surface. However, the work is not even close to being done.

Read more about her in the Time Person of the Year article by clicking here.