Greta Thunberg, the 16year-old climate activist from Sweden, left her stamp on the United Nations this week. The climate activist had her message to the world beamed onto the United Nations headquarters in New York, US. The message was translated into 30 languages, calling for direct action against climate change. Ms Thunberg’s inspiring words were mixed with depictions of melting icebergs and the effects of the climate crisis.
The UN welcomed on Friday, September 20, global protests from students, climate activists, teachers and scientists.
Ms Thunberg personally led a climate demonstration on the streets of New York and was welcomed at the UN HQ.
António Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN, said: “Like the millions who all over the world are demonstrating today in favour of peace with nature, your presence here today is very important for our work.”
Mr Guterres praised Ms Thunberg for “starting this moment” in 2018 when she solitarily protested climate change in front of the Swedish Parliament.
READ MORE: Climate change: Humans are ‘directly’ to blame for melting Antarctic
He added: “I encourage you to keep your initiative, keep your mobilisation, and more and more to hold my generation accountable.”
Attending a UN Youth Climate Summit on Saturday, September 21, Ms Thunberg thanked the younger generations for showing initiative.
More than 700 young people took part in the climate conference.
She said: “Yesterday millions of people across the globe marched and demanded real climate action, especially young people.
“We showed that we are united and we young people are unstoppable.”
