Meet the teenager whose one-person protest sparked a worldwide climate revolution! Discover more about this young eco-hero in our top ten Greta Thunberg facts…

 

Who is Greta Thunberg?

Greta Thunberg facts: illustration of Greta holding a 'School Strike for Climate' poster

1) Greta Thunberg is an environmental activist. She was born in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2003. When she was eight, she started learning about climate change. The more she learned, the more baffled she became as to why so little was being done about it.

2) At the age of 11, Greta became so sad about climate change that she temporarily stopped speaking!

3) Greta has Asperger syndrome, a condition that affects how people socialise. But Greta views her condition as a positive, calling it her “superpower”! She says it helps her see the world in black and white, and that there are “no grey areas when it comes to climate change.”

4) In August 2018, Greta decided to take action. Instead of going to school, she made a large sign that read ‘SCHOOL STRIKE FOR CLIMATE’, and calmly sat down outside the Swedish parliament. Her aim? To make politicians take notice and act to stop global warming. 

5) Greta was inspired by teenage activists in Florida, USA, who were protesting to end gun violence. Read more about the School Strike for Climate protests that Greta inspired!

6) Greta’s strike was picked up by the Swedish media, and the word started to spread. Soon enough, tens of thousands of students from around the world joined her #FridaysforFuture strikes – skipping school on Fridays to protest against climate change.

School Strikes for Climate: photo of Greta Thunberg striking outside the Swedish parliament
Greta with her original sign outside the Swedish parliament.

7) In March 2019, climate campaigners across the world, and inspired by Greta, came together to co-ordinate the first Global Strike for Climate. It was huge – over 1.6 million people from 125 countries took part! There are further global strikes planned for September this year.

8) Since her strike began, Greta’s life has become a whirlwind! She’s given rousing speeches to politicians, to the EU parliament, the UK parliament, to protesters and more. She’s appeared in documentaries and had loads of books and articles written about her. She’s even been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize! 

9) In August 2019, Greta travelled on a wind and solar-powered boat from Plymouth, UK, to New York, USA – the journey took 15 days! Greta will be at the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York, where she’ll demand action from world leaders.

10) Greta has named Rosa Parks, the civil rights activist, as one of her greatest inspirations. In the 1950s, Rosa sparked a civil rights movement that improved the lives and treatment of millions of African Americans.

 

What do you think of our Greta Thunberg facts? Let us know by leaving a comment, below!

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COMMENTS

  • Emma

    I think we should take action and do our part to save our world. ✊

  • green fox

    i feel like this is something that the world needs to see

  • maliaf1324

    this is so cool of what she did!

  • Let's take action!

  • that was a very interesting article

  • thanks this helped me with my homework

  • sophie

    great

  • Wow!

  • joe

    cool

  • Amelia

  • fernando stundet

    were learning about greta!

  • salvador

    lets take action

  • CALEXI

    greta is a big caring girl with a big heart

  • bob

  • GLOBAL WARMING

  • greta

    thos ws helpfull

  • rynal

    amasing

  • Haider Ali

    Cool I can not wait for an other story

  • jimmy

    great stuff

  • Johanna

    cool

  • rynal

    cool

  • Aleeya

  • Aleeya

  • Katyayani

    Amazing!

  • Cool beans such a inspiration! Greta is a true notable!

  • isabella

    she is so cool!!

  • FrejaSR

    I’m making signs and trying too help you too help save the world.

  • lara

    she Is a really good person because she wants to save the planet.

  • great

  • #Unicorn

    So amazing what kids and girls can do!

  • Unicorn

    So amazing what kidz can do especially grlz

  • action4climatechange

    wow thanks Greta your helping the world with a simple sign

  • abigail

  • wow!

  • robyng

  • lets take acton now while we can

  • eco lover

    i hope people realise that climate change isnt something u can forget

  • hi

  • jim

  • ella

    i like greta thunberg

  • I

    Wow

  • mia

    cool

  • neave

    lets help greta Thunberg save the ocean

  • david e

    go greta

  • Aimee G

    this site is amazing WOW!!!!

  • nice

  • MLF

    niceeeeeee

  • ronaldomg

    niceeeeeee

  • Berlina

    Nice to learn something New Everyday.

  • man

    Cool

  • #savetheturtles

    Can't wait!

  • #savetheturte

  • Lucy

    Greta has inspired me to take action!

  • safina

    wow

  • Ace

    Wow I didn't realise

  • Wow

  • Robyn L.

    Cool website, nice topic to talk about.

  • We have to stop global warming !!!

  • Seb

    It be good

  • Sebastian

    So good

  • Wow

  • bob

    hi

  • Chloe

    Save the enviroment!

  • carromboy103

    Let's take action!

  • Taylor

    lets take action!

  • Thanks for the great info.

  • Noscar

    that is interesting

  • English Wednesday 10th June | Year Four

    […] Greta Thunberg facts! […]

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    […] learning about Greta? Read some interesting facts about her life here: https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/kids-club/cool-kids/general-kids- […]

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