In the midst of a world growing hotter—both literally and figuratively—a teenage girl from Sweden emerged to shake the international stage. Greta Thunberg, born on January 3, 2003, in Stockholm, is no ordinary activist. With an innocent face but a piercing gaze, she has become a symbol of youth resistance against the climate crisis. Yet her journey doesn’t stop there. From school strikes outside the Swedish parliament to joining aid flotillas bound for Gaza, Greta has evolved into a voice that speaks not only for the planet but also for human rights and global injustices.
Background: From Depression to ‘Superpower’
Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg was born into an artistic family. Her mother, Malena Ernman, is a renowned opera singer, while her father, Svante Thunberg, is an actor. Her grandfather, Olof Thunberg, was also a legendary actor in Sweden. However, Greta’s childhood was far from a fairy tale. At the age of eight, she first learned about climate change in school. This knowledge plunged her into severe depression. She stopped eating, speaking, and lost up to 10 kg in two months. Doctors diagnosed her with Asperger’s syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and selective mutism—a condition that makes it difficult for her to speak in certain situations.
Instead of viewing her condition as a weakness, Greta calls Asperger’s her “superpower.” It helps her focus intensely on issues she cares about, unhindered by typical social norms. Her family transformed as well: they became vegan, stopped flying, and adopted a sustainable lifestyle. Her mother even abandoned her international opera career to avoid air travel. This story is detailed in their family book, Our House Is on Fire: Scenes of a Family and a Planet in Crisis (2020), which became a bestseller and opened many eyes to how the climate crisis affects personal lives.
Greta’s depression wasn’t just a sad tale; it was a catalyst. She realized that if adults wouldn’t act, young people had to lead. By age 11, she was already contemplating real action, even as she battled her mental health.
The Start of Activism: A School Strike That Shook the World
In August 2018, as Sweden endured its hottest summer on record with widespread forest fires, Greta decided to strike from school. She sat alone outside the Riksdag (Swedish parliament), holding a sign that read “Skolstrejk för klimatet” (School Strike for Climate). This protest was initially timed for the September 2018 elections, demanding that the Swedish government comply with the Paris Agreement by drastically reducing carbon emissions.
What began as a solo protest quickly spread. Photos of Greta on social media went viral, inspiring thousands of students worldwide to join strikes every Friday—thus birthing the “Fridays for Future” movement. By December 2018, over 20,000 students in 270 cities participated. The movement peaked in September 2019, with 4 million people taking to the streets globally, including in Montreal where Greta joined half a million demonstrators.
Greta didn’t stop at the streets. She sailed across the Atlantic on a zero-emission yacht to attend the UN Climate Summit in New York in 2019, avoiding polluting flights. Her speech there, “How dare you!”, became iconic: “You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words.” Those words jolted world leaders, from Angela Merkel to António Guterres, who acknowledged that Greta pushed them to act faster.
Achievements: Awards and Global Influence
In a short time, Greta became one of the world’s most influential people. In 2019, she was named Person of the Year by Time magazine—the youngest recipient ever. She also won the Right Livelihood Award (known as the Alternative Nobel), Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award, and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times consecutively (2019-2023). In 2020, she received the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity worth €1 million, which she donated entirely to environmental charities.
Her influence is evident in the “Greta Effect”: surveys show increased climate awareness among youth, with millions adopting low-carbon lifestyles. In Sweden, the concept of “flygskam” (flight shame) became a trend, boosting train usage. Her compilation book, The Climate Book (2022), gathers essays from scientists and activists, serving as a guide for a new generation. Even Pope Francis praised her commitment during their 2019 meeting.
Controversies: From Personal Attacks to Accusations of Antisemitism
No major figure escapes controversy. Greta has often been the target of personal attacks. Donald Trump once mocked her on Twitter, suggesting she needed “anger management classes.” Vladimir Putin called her “uninformed,” while Jair Bolsonaro labeled her a “brat.” Right-wing groups, like Germany’s AfD, attacked her Asperger’s as a “deficiency.” In 2020, a Canadian oil company distributed offensive stickers depicting an assault on her, sparking global outrage.
Further controversy arose from her support for non-climate issues. In 2021, her tweet backing Indian farmers led to accusations of foreign interference, even resulting in the arrest of activist Disha Ravi. Her support for Palestine since 2023 has fueled debates. She has called for ceasefires in Gaza and linked it to climate justice, but critics fault her for not directly condemning Hamas. In December 2024, at a rally in Germany, she said “F* Germany and f* Israel,” leading to accusations of antisemitism from Jewish advocacy groups.
Greta has also rejected some awards, like the Nordic Council Environment Prize in 2019, arguing that words aren’t enough without real action. She has been arrested multiple times for civil disobedience, including in Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden, facing fines in the thousands of kronor.
Recent Activities: From Climate Protests to Palestine Solidarity
After graduating high school in June 2023, Greta continued her studies at Stockholm University while remaining active. In 2024, she boycotted COP29 in Azerbaijan due to human rights violations, instead visiting Georgia and Armenia to support local protests. She was also detained in Copenhagen for blocking a university in a pro-Palestine action.
In 2025, her focus shifted to the Gaza crisis. In June, she joined the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, but her ship was intercepted by Israel and she was deported. Undeterred, in late August, she boarded the Global Sumud Flotilla—an armada of over 40 ships with 500 activists from 44 countries, including European parliamentarians and Nelson Mandela’s grandson. The goal: to break Israel’s 2007 blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza amid famine and over 66,000 deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
On October 1, 2025, the flotilla was intercepted in international waters, about 70 miles from Gaza. Greta, aboard the Alma, was detained along with hundreds of others. Reports alleged harsh treatment: dirty cells infested with insects at Ketziot Prison, food and water shortages, and being forced to pose with Israeli flags in humiliating photos. Israel denied the claims, calling it a “PR stunt” supported by Hamas. Global protests erupted in Athens, Rome, and Ankara; Italian unions staged a general strike. On October 6, 2025, Greta was deported to Athens alongside 170 other activists.
This incident reinforced her stance: “If we don’t care about the children of Gaza, how can we save the planet?” she said. She also protested at Budapest Pride in June 2025 against bans in Hungary and in the Balkans against hydroelectric projects and corruption.
Impact and Legacy: A Voice That Can’t Be Silenced
Greta has transformed the climate narrative from elite discussions to mass movements. Her effect is measurable: a 2021 study showed familiarity with Greta increases activism intentions in the US. Yet critics persist, calling her “too young” or “manipulated.” For Greta, it doesn’t matter. “I don’t care about being popular,” she says. Her legacy proves one person can spark change—from school strikes to challenging sea blockades.
At 22, Greta continues fighting. Will she return to pure climate focus or broaden her advocacy? One thing is clear: the world can no longer ignore her voice. As she says: “No one is too small to make a difference.”
