- Title: Greta Thunberg: How one school girl's climate change campaign recruited millions
- Date: 29th August 2019
- Summary: Thunberg shows support for protesters Germany's ancient Hambach Forest in order to protect it from mining. The protesters are trying to prevent utilities company RWE from clearing the forest that it bought decades ago to expand mining. In July, she announces she will sail to the United Nations climate summit in New York from Britain. HAMBACH, GERMANY (AUGUST 10, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF THUNBERG LOOKING OUT OVER HAMBACH SURFACE MINE THUNBERG LOOKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) CLIMATE ACTIVIST, GRETA THUNBERG, SAYING: (ON UPCOMING BOAT TRIP TO NEW YORK) "Yeah, I have not sailed before, but I am going to go there now to try to sort of get basic lessons in what to do and what not to do. The people I am sailing with are professionals, so I am not worried about my safety at all. But it's going to be a very long and challenging trip. But yes, this is a huge opportunity and it's not many people who can make that trip, so of course, it will be hard, but it's also a huge opportunity to appreciate."
- Embargoed: 12th September 2019 19:55
- Keywords: Greta Thunberg Climate activism Sweden U.N climate politics global warming Fridays for Future
- Location: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
- City: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
- Country: Various
- Topics: Environment,Editors' Choice,Climate Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00FAUAJM13
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg pioneered a climate change campaign that swelled from a one-person school strike by the then 15-year-old to a worldwide movement, drawing in millions of school children, and adults too, who are demanding action on climate change.
Thunberg first drew attention in August, 2019 when she skipped school to protest outside Swedish parliament each Friday.
The teen activist was soon joined by a small group of other school strikers in Stockholm, before the campaign attracted tens of thousands of students in more than 24 countries, taking part in Friday school strikes around the world.
By March 2019, the number of students taking part in worldwide Friday demonstrations hit more than two million across 135 countries.
The now 16-year-old has since been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, named one of the world's most influential people by Time magazine and appeared on its cover. Thunberg has also been awarded a the French Normandy Freedom Prize.
In less than a year since starting the "Fridays for Future" campaign, Thunberg has addressed European Parliament, met Pope Francis and addressed the UK's House of Commons.
In August, 2019, Thunberg sailed into New York Harbour on a zero-carbon emissions vessel, completing a nearly 14-day journey from England to take part in a United Nations climate summit. Meanwhile, the total number of climate strikers reached 3.6 million people across 169 countries.
(Production: Aiden Nulty, Lucy Marks) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None