Sixteen-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg is rejecting the criticism she’s receiving from “grown-ups” who she says should instead spend their time “acting on the science” that shows the environment is in serious danger.
Thunberg, a Swedish native, addressed the flak while visiting Canada on Friday as part of her multination tour to draw attention to the climate crisis.
“That we should take as compliment that we are having so much impact that people want to silence us,” Thunberg said at a Montreal rally, as reported by The Associated Press. “We’ve become too loud for people to handle, so people want to silence us.”
Following her appearance at the United Nations General Assembly earlier in the week, Thunberg was the subject of aggressive criticism online and in conservative media, with Fox News personalities comparing her to the “Children of the Corn” and calling her “mentally ill.”
President Trump
Donald John TrumpMcConnell challenger McGrath backs impeachment inquiry McConnell encouraged Trump to release transcript of Zelensky call: report Trump told Russian officials in 2017 he was unconcerned about Moscow’s election interference: report MORE poked fun at her on Twitter on Tuesday, posting a video of one of her more dire warnings with the message “She seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see!”
Thunberg replied Friday, saying that she didn’t get “why grown-ups would choose to mock children and teenagers for just communicating and acting on the science when they could do something good instead.”
In addition to the Canadian event Thunberg attended Friday, countless other climate rallies were held around the world. These rallies come a week after the Global Climate Strike that saw more than 4 million people around the world protest.
As part of her trip to Montreal, Thunberg sat down with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Justin Pierre James TrudeauGreta Thunberg: I don’t understand why ‘grown-ups’ mock ‘acting on the science’ Thunberg leads climate change strike in Montreal Green Party in Canada admits editing photo to show leader holding reusable cup MORE, who was also present at the city’s demonstration.
“She is the voice of a generation, of young people who are calling on their leaders to do more and do better,” Trudeau said. “And I am listening.”
As with other world leaders with whom she has met, Thunberg said Trudeau isn’t going far enough to address the rapidly warming planet.
“He is of course obviously not doing enough, but this is just a huge problem, this is a system that is wrong,” Thunberg said. “My message to all the politicians is the same: Just listen and act on the science.”
