“You must take action. You must do the impossible. Because giving up is never an option.”
Childhood & Family Background Greta Thunberg is an 18-yr-old climate activist. She was born in Stockholm, Sweden on January 3, 2003. She is part of a creative and scientific family. Her father, Svante, is an actor. Her mother, Malena, is an opera singer, and her younger sister, Beata, is also a singer. One of Greta’s relatives who lived long ago was a scientist. His name was Svante Arrhenius. His work helped to predict the warming of the planet caused by humans burning too much fuel. Today, this is called global warming and it is part of the climate crisis.
Greta enjoys spending time with her two dogs, Moses and Roxy. As a younger child, she loved ballet, piano, and horses. Greta’s parents taught her and Beata to be responsible about the environment. They turned off the lights when they left rooms, tried not to waste water, rode bikes whenever possible, and bought an electric car.
Greta has always been a serious thinker. At 8 years old, she learned about the climate crisis in school. She became very passionate about this issue, and read many books about climate change. She learned about how farms that raise too many animals for people to eat can harm the environment. She also learned that traveling by airplane too much can cause air pollution. This inspired her to take action early in life. Greta became a vegan. Vegans do not eat food that is made from animals. She also stopped flying when she traveled. She encouraged her family to do the same.
At age 11, Greta was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. Aspergers is on the Autism Spectrum. People with Aspergers are intelligent and talented, but they learn differently and sometimes struggle with social skills. Greta is open about her Aspergers. She has said that it allows her to be very focused and persistent. Persistence means that you work hard on something until it is finished. It is similar to perseverance, which is one of our Churchill Core Values. In these ways, Greta says that her Aspergers helps her to be a better activist.
Timeline of Greta’s Life
January 3, 2003-
Greta is born in Stockholm, Sweden
2005-
Greta’s sister, Beata, is born
2014-
Greta is diagnosed with Asperger’s
2018-
Greta begins her “School Strike for Climate” alone. After she posts on social media, the movement begins to grow.
Her climate strike grows and grows into the “Fridays for Future” movement.
Students around the world start to organize climate strikes on Fridays.
2019-
Greta speaks to important leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Greta is nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Greta is given the 2019 Right Livelihood Award. This award is sometimes called Sweden’s other Nobel Prize.
Greta arrives in New York City on a boat named Malizia II. She speaks to more important leaders at the United Nations.
Greta is named Time magazine’s “Person of the Year”
2020-
Greta is nominated a second time for the Nobel Peace Prize.
2021-
Greta continues her activism on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this video, watch Greta discuss speaking truth to power, doing the right thing, and how her Aspergers diagnosis is an asset to her as an activist. Click Here: CBS Morning Interview with Greta Thunberg
Watch Greta deliver a powerful speech to world leaders. "How dare you!"