Who is Greta Thunberg? Biography, Age & Wiki

Greta Thunberg was born on January 3, 2003, in Stockholm, Sweden. Raised in a family of artists—her mother was an opera singer, and her father was an actor—Greta’s life took a different direction when she became deeply concerned about climate change. Diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, a form of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Thunberg exhibited a strong ability to focus on specific issues. For her, that issue was the environment.

At just eight years old, she learned about climate change and was profoundly affected. Determined to take action, she adopted an eco-friendly lifestyle, becoming a vegan and refusing to travel by airplane due to their significant carbon emissions.

The Birth of Fridays for Future

Thunberg’s activism took off in August 2018 when she staged a school strike outside the Swedish Parliament, demanding action on climate change. Holding a sign that read Skolstrejk för Klimatet (School Strike for Climate), she sat alone on the first day, but soon, more people joined her.

After the Swedish elections, she continued to protest every Friday, inspiring students worldwide to launch their own climate strikes. This movement, known as Fridays for Future, quickly spread across the globe, with youth-led demonstrations in countries like Belgium, Canada, the U.S., the U.K., France, and many others.

International Recognition and Speeches

As her movement grew, Thunberg was invited to speak at major global events. She addressed world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the European Parliament, and the legislatures of Italy, France, the U.K., and the U.S.

Her most famous speech came in September 2019 at a United Nations climate summit in New York City. Traveling there via an emissions-free yacht to avoid air travel, she passionately criticized world leaders, saying:

“You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words… 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!”

Following her speech, millions of people across 163 countries participated in climate strikes, demonstrating the power of her influence, often referred to as the Greta effect.

Praise, Criticism, and Advocacy Beyond Climate

Thunberg has received numerous accolades for her activism. However, not everyone has supported her message. Critics, including former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, have dismissed her efforts, with Bolsonaro notably calling her a “brat” in 2019.

Beyond environmental activism, Thunberg has also raised awareness about Asperger syndrome. She has embraced her diagnosis, once tweeting:

“I have Asperger’s, and that means I’m sometimes a bit different from the norm. And—given the right circumstances—being different is a superpower.”

Books and Documentary

Thunberg has authored books compiling her speeches and climate insights, including:

• No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference (2019)

• The Climate Book: The Facts and the Solutions (2023)

Her journey was also documented in the 2020 documentary I Am Greta, providing an in-depth look at her activism and global impact.