A Catalyst For Gen Z

A young activist and a catalyst for people’s ignorant attitudes towards climate change. This person who also stands out as the global advocate for climate change is known as Greta Thunberg. Her bold attitude and young perspective have inspired millions of witnesses of climate change who also want to make a difference. She has astonished scientists since they repeatedly said the consequences of climate change in front of the press but nearly everyone ignored them. But this environmental activist had a stentorian voice which made people hear about climate change consequences globally. She was defiant against the dirty politics which didn’t favor climate change and nonetheless, these politicians never implemented policies that could help change these steady trends of hot temperatures. Her speeches at global conferences made the mayor and presidents of the world committed to take climate change as a priority in their to-do list.

She started as a school student protesting with a banner near the Swedish Parliament, with her influence on other kids at school. Eventually, this led to many students from other schools started spreading messages about climate change in their communities. “They keep saying that climate change is an existential threat and the most important issue of all. And yet they just carry on like before. If the emissions have to stop then we must stop the emissions,” said Greta with her held up high. She also started ‘Fridays For Future’ a movement where other activists around the world were encouraged to protest against the lack of policy implementation by their government for climate change.

They keep saying that climate change is an existential threat and the most important issue of all. And yet they just carry on like before. If the emissions have to stop then we must stop the emissions.

The internet, which played a pivotal role in this strike’s success, has made a myriad of outreach. But, this is not the first time someone is protesting against the government for their stance on this issue. Her most famous protesting signs and slogans are, ‘There Is No Planet B’, ‘The only cause for young people to die will be climate change’ and many other slogans which are a bitter truth that we have been ignoring for decades.

This personality has been the recipient of innumerable awards. She has received top-ranked awards such as, the International Children’s Peace Prize, the Nobel Peace Prize, Right Livelihood Award, Rachel Carson Prize, Ambassador of Conscience Award, being recognized as the Times Person of the Year, 2019.

To decrease her biological footprint on Earth, she traveled Plymouth, UK to New York, the U.S. by voyage.

What makes Greta stand out from others was her message, her purpose, determination through which she stood up against all who were unwilling to accept the ‘hard truth.’ And her ‘resistance and persistence’ a principle through which all public and revolutionary figures made an impact.

“The eyes of all future generations are upon you. And if you choose to fail us, I say — we will never forgive you.” — UN Climate Summit, New York, 23 September 2019.

“The eyes of all future generations are upon you. And if you choose to fail us, I say — we will never forgive you.”

We need to be aware that climate change is the next major threat to our existence on this planet. We need to know that we don’t have another planet to live. We need to learn that the soon we act, the better we are prepared for climate change.

Image Credits: Washington Post photo by Jahi Chikwendiu

Originally published at https://catimes.wixsite.com on November 9, 2020.