Greta Thunberg at Youth4Climate Summit 2021 in Milan - full speech

Summary

The speaker passionately addresses the urgent need for genuine climate action, criticizing the lack of progress despite decades of dialogue. They emphasize the importance of transitioning to a low-carbon economy and the necessity to confront the root causes of the climate crisis, including historical emissions and social inequality. The speech calls for drastic emission cuts, innovative solutions, and a shift in power dynamics to prioritize people and the planet over political convenience, advocating for climate justice and a sustainable future.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Climate change is seen as both a threat and an opportunity to create a healthier, greener, and cleaner planet.
• 💡 The speaker emphasizes the need for innovation, cooperation, and willpower to make necessary changes for ecological conservation and high-quality development.
• 🚶‍♂️ The call for action is to 'walk the talk', implying that words must be followed by concrete actions.
• 🌱 The concept of 'green jobs' is highlighted as a key aspect of the fight against climate change, suggesting employment opportunities in sustainable sectors.
• 🔄 The necessity of a smooth transition towards a low-carbon economy is stressed, acknowledging the urgency of reducing carbon emissions.
• 🌐 The phrase 'there is no planet B' is used to underscore the uniqueness and fragility of our environment, highlighting the importance of protecting it.
• 🗣️ Criticism is directed at leaders for their lack of action and the disparity between their words and actual deeds, especially in the context of climate policies.
• 📉 The speaker points out that over 50% of CO2 emissions have occurred since 1990, with a significant portion since 2005, indicating the scale and recency of the problem.
• 📊 The media is called out for not holding leaders accountable for their inaction on climate change, suggesting a need for more critical reporting.
• 🔄 The importance of addressing historical emissions and equity is highlighted, as ignoring these factors hinders progress towards a solution.
• 🌿 The climate crisis is identified as a symptom of a larger sustainability and social crisis, rooted in inequality and exploitation of resources.
• 📈 Despite current projections for rising emissions, the speaker maintains that change is possible but requires drastic annual emission cuts and a shift in societal attitudes.

Q & A

What is the primary message of the speaker regarding climate change?

The speaker emphasizes that climate change is an opportunity to create a healthier, greener, and cleaner planet, and it requires innovation, cooperation, and willpower to make necessary changes.

What does the speaker mean by 'walking the talk' in the context of climate change?

'Walking the talk' refers to the need for concrete actions rather than just making promises or statements about combating climate change.

What is the speaker's view on the concept of 'green jobs'?

The speaker views 'green jobs' as a positive outcome of addressing climate change, implying that transitioning to a low-carbon economy can create employment opportunities.

Why does the speaker criticize the current approach to climate change?

The speaker criticizes the lack of action despite the rhetoric, pointing out that words have not translated into effective measures to combat climate change, and that there has been no significant reduction in CO2 emissions.

What does the speaker suggest is the role of the media in the climate crisis?

The speaker suggests that the media should hold leaders accountable for their actions or inactions regarding climate change, rather than just reporting on their statements.

What is the speaker's stance on the current state of global emissions?

The speaker is concerned that global emissions are still rising, with over 50 percent of all CO2 emissions occurring since 1990, indicating a failure to address the climate crisis effectively.

What is the speaker's view on the necessity of understanding the crisis to solve it?

The speaker believes that a full understanding of the crisis, including all contributing factors such as equity and historic emissions, is essential to finding effective solutions.

How does the speaker describe the broader implications of the climate crisis?

The speaker describes the climate crisis as a symptom of a larger sustainability and social crisis, rooted in inequality and historical exploitation of resources.

What does the speaker suggest is the current direction of global efforts on climate change?

The speaker suggests that current efforts are insufficient and misguided, with a projection of the second highest emission rise in 2021 and a lack of investment in clean energy measures.

What is the speaker's call to action for the audience?

The speaker calls for immediate action, a change in the way we approach the climate crisis, and a demand for real climate action and justice from the people, emphasizing that hope comes from the people taking action.

What does the speaker mean by 'hope is not passive'?

The speaker means that hope involves active participation and taking action, rather than just waiting or expecting change to happen without any effort.

Outlines

00:00

🌱 Climate Change: Opportunity for a Greener Future

The speaker emphasizes that climate change presents a significant opportunity to create a healthier, greener, and cleaner planet, benefiting all of humanity. The call to action involves seizing this opportunity through ecological conservation and high-quality development. The script criticizes the lack of real action by leaders, despite their rhetoric on climate change, and points out the need for innovation, cooperation, and a strong will to implement necessary changes. The speaker also highlights the importance of transitioning to a low-carbon economy and the urgency of addressing the climate crisis, which is a symptom of a larger sustainability and social crisis rooted in inequality and exploitation.

05:00

📉 The Urgency of Climate Action and Accountability

This paragraph focuses on the urgent need for drastic action to combat climate change, with the speaker expressing frustration at the lack of genuine listening and action by leaders despite the clear scientific evidence of rising emissions. The speaker advocates for hope as a driving force for truth and action, emphasizing that the people demand a safe future, real climate action, and climate justice. The paragraph concludes with a call for immediate action, starting with facing the uncomfortable reality of the situation and taking steps towards change, with the conviction that it is possible to address the crisis if the people lead the way.

Keywords

💡Climate Change

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, primarily as a result of human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. In the video, it is presented not just as a threat but also as an opportunity for creating a healthier, greener, and cleaner planet, highlighting the dual nature of the issue as both a crisis and a catalyst for positive transformation.

💡Opportunity

The term 'opportunity' in this context suggests a moment or condition that allows for progress or development. The speaker emphasizes that climate change presents an opportunity to innovate and create a more sustainable future, rather than solely viewing it as a problem.

💡Green Jobs

Green jobs are employment opportunities in industries that are directly related to preserving or restoring the environment. The script mentions 'green jobs' as a positive outcome of addressing climate change, indicating the potential for economic growth and job creation in sustainable sectors.

💡Low Carbon Economy

A low carbon economy is one that operates with minimal carbon emissions, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of economic activities. The script calls for a 'smooth transition' towards such an economy, indicating the need for a gradual shift away from carbon-intensive practices.

💡Innovation

Innovation is the process of creating new methods, ideas, or products. The speaker mentions the need for 'innovation' in the fight against climate change, suggesting that creative solutions and new technologies are essential for addressing this global challenge.

💡Cooperation

Cooperation here refers to the act of working together towards a common goal. The script emphasizes the need for global cooperation in the face of climate change, indicating that no single country can solve this issue alone.

💡Willpower

Willpower is the determination or resolve to do something. The speaker mentions 'willpower' in the context of making necessary changes to combat climate change, suggesting that a strong commitment and determination are required from all involved parties.

💡Net Zero

Net zero refers to a state where the amount of greenhouse gases emitted is balanced by an equivalent amount being removed from the atmosphere, effectively having zero impact on the climate. The script mentions 'net zero by 2050' as a goal, indicating a specific target for reducing emissions.

💡Climate Justice

Climate justice is the concept of fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in addressing climate change and its impacts, regardless of their race, class, or other social factors. The speaker calls for 'climate justice,' emphasizing the need for equitable solutions that consider the rights and needs of all communities.

💡Accountability

Accountability in this context means holding leaders and governments responsible for their actions or inactions regarding climate change. The script criticizes the lack of accountability, pointing out that despite promises, there has been little concrete action taken to address the issue.

💡Sustainability Crisis

A sustainability crisis refers to the broader issues of environmental, social, and economic systems not being able to be maintained or preserved over time. The script mentions this as a larger underlying issue of which climate change is a symptom, suggesting that addressing climate change also requires tackling these deeper systemic problems.

Highlights

Climate change is an opportunity to create a healthier, greener, and cleaner planet benefiting all.

We must seize the opportunity for win-win ecological conservation and high-quality development.

Fighting climate change requires innovation, cooperation, and willpower for necessary changes.

Walking the talk is essential for collective action against climate change.

Green jobs are a key aspect of thinking about climate change solutions.

A smooth transition to a low carbon economy is necessary, acknowledging there is no Planet B.

Addressing climate change is not just about politically correct green actions, but real change.

30 years of dialogue have led to no significant action, with over 50% of CO2 emissions since 1990.

Media should focus on leaders' actions, not just their promises, to hold them accountable.

Equity, historic emissions, and consumption of imported goods must be considered in climate solutions.

Ignoring clever accounting practices will hinder progress in reducing emissions.

The climate crisis is a symptom of a larger sustainability, social, and inequality crisis.

Confronting the roots of the crisis, including colonialism and exploitation, is essential for real change.

2021 is projected to have the second-highest emission rise, with only 2% of recovery spending on clean energy.

Global emissions are expected to rise by 16% by 2030 compared to 2010 levels.

Leaders' lack of action is a betrayal to present and future generations.

Drastic annual emission cuts are needed, requiring more than just technological solutions.

Hope is about telling the truth, taking action, and coming from the people.

People want a safe future, real climate action, and climate justice.

The people demand immediate action for a safe and just climate future.

Transcripts

climate change

is not only a threat

it is above all an opportunity to create

a healthier greener and cleaner planet

which will benefit all of us

we must seize this opportunity we can

achieve a win-win in both ecological

conservation and high quality

development

fighting climate change calls for

innovation cooperation and willpower to

make the changes that the world needs

we need to walk the talk if we do this

together we can do this

when i say climate change

what do you think of

i think of jobs

green jobs

green jobs

[Applause]

we must find a smooth transition towards

a low carbon economy

there is no planet b

there is no planet blah blah blah blah

blah blah blah

this is not about some expensive

politically correct green act of bunny

hugging or blah blah blah

build back better blah blah blah green

economy blah blah blah

net 0x25

2050 blah blah blah

net zero by 2050 blah blah blah net zero

blah blah blah climate neutral blah blah

blah

this is all we hear from our so-called

leaders

words

words that sound

great but so far

has led to no action

our hopes and dreams drown in their

empty words and promises

of course we need constructive dialogue

but they've now had 30 years of blah

blah blah and where has that led us

over 50 percent of all our co2 emissions

have occurred since 1990

and a third since 2005.

all this while the media is reporting on

what the leaders say that they are going

to do instead of what they are actually

doing

and then not holding leaders accountable

for their action or rather inaction

and don't get me wrong we can still do

this

change is not only possible but urgently

necessary but not if we go on like today

they say they want solutions

but you cannot solve a crisis that you

don't do not fully understand you cannot

balance a budget if you do not count all

the numbers

and as long as we ignore equity and

historic emissions

and as long as we don't include

consumption of imported goods burning of

biomass etc etc and as long as clever

accounting is one of the most efficient

ways of reducing emissions we won't get

anywhere and the climate crisis is of

course

only a symptom of a much larger crisis

a sustainability crisis a social crisis

a crisis of inequality that dates back

to colonialism and beyond

a crisis based on the idea that some

people are worth more than others and

therefore have the right to exploit and

steal other people's lands and resources

it is very naive to believe that we can

solve this crisis without confronting

the roots of it

right now we are still very much

speeding in the wrong direction

2021 is currently projected to

experience the second highest emission

rise ever

only about two percent of government

recovery spendings have been allocated

to clean energy measures

and according to a new report by the un

global emissions are expected to rise by

16 by 2030 compared to 2010 levels

our leaders intentional lack of action

is a betrayal towards all present and

future generations

the people in power cannot claim that

they are trying

because they are clearly not as they

continue opening up brand new coal mines

oil fields and pipelines

pretending to have ambitious climate

policies while granting new oil line

sensors exploring enormous future oil

fields

and shamelessly congratulating

themselves while still failing to come

up with even the bare minimum

and long overdue funding to help the

most vulnerable countries deal with the

impact of the climate crisis

if this is what they consider to be

climate action then we don't want it

they invite cherry-picked young people

to meetings like this to pretend that

they are listening to us

but they are not

they are clearly not listening to us

and they never have just look at the

numbers look at the statistics the

emissions are still rising

the science doesn't lie

but

of course we can still turn this around

it is entirely possible it will take

drastic annual emission cuts unlike

anything the world has ever seen

and as we don't have the technological

solutions that alone can deliver

anything close to that that means we

will have to change

we can no longer let the people in power

decide what is politically possible or

not

we can no longer let the people in power

decide what hope is

hope is not passive

hope is not blah blah blah

hope

is telling the truth

hope is taking action

and hope always comes from the people

[Applause]

and we

and we the people we want a safe future

we want real climate action and we want

climate justice did you hear me what do

we want

when do we want it

what do we want

when do we want it

the leaders like to say we can do this

they obviously don't mean it but we do

we can do this

i'm absolutely convinced that we can

but it starts with the people it starts

with facing the reality of the situation

as uncomfortable as it may be

it starts with taking action and it

starts now

again what do we want

when do we want it

what do we want

when do we want it what do we want

when do we want it

what do we want

when do we want it

thank you

foreign