Greta Thunberg berates US politicians over climate change policies

Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg berated top US politicians to their faces today, upset at their lack of action to address climate change.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg. Picture: Francois Walschaerts/AFP

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg berated US politicians during a congressional hearing today, warning them they wouldn’t be able to “get away with” inaction on climate change forever.

Ms Thunberg, 18, appeared before the House Oversight Subcommittee as it held a hearing on fossil fuel subsidies. Coincidentally, it came on the same day as President Joe Biden’s climate change summit with world leaders, where several countries committed to more ambitious emissions reduction targets.

“I don’t represent any financial or political interests. I’m not a lobbyist, so I can’t negotiate, make deals or compromise. I have nothing to offer you, nor am I a scientist,” she told the members of Congress.

“All I can do is urge you to listen to and act on the science and to use your common sense.

“It is the year 2021. The fact that we are still having this discussion, and even more that we are still subsidising fossil fuels directly or indirectly using taxpayer money, is a disgrace. It is clear proof that we have not understood the climate emergency at all.”

RELATED: Thunberg weighs in on Australian bushfire crisis

Ms Thunberg speaking to the Congressional Oversight Committee.

Ms Thunberg said there was a “huge gap” between the best available science on climate change and the current “so-called climate policies”.

“It may seem like we are asking for a lot, and you will of course say that we are naive. And that’s fine,” she continued.

“But at least we are not so naive that we believe things will be solved through countries and companies making vague, distant, insufficient targets without any real pressure form the media and the general public.

“What I’m here to say is that, unlike you, my generation will not give up without a fight. And to be honest, I don’t believe for a second that you will actually do this. The climate crisis doesn’t exist in the public debate today.

“And since it doesn’t really exist and the general level of awareness is so absurdly low, you will still get away with continuing to contribute to the destruction of present and future living conditions.”

She carried that accusatory tone through to the conclusion of her statement.

“I know I’m not the one who is supposed to ask the questions here, but there is something I really do wonder. How long do you honestly believe that people in power, like you, will get away with it? How long do you think you can continue to ignore the crisis without being held accountable?” Ms Thunberg said.

“You get away with it now, but sooner or later, people are going to realise what you have been doing all this time. That’s inevitable.

“You still have time to do the right thing and to save your legacies, but that window of time is not going to last for long. What happens then? We, the young people, are the ones who are going to write about you in the history books. We are the ones who get to decide how you will be remembered.

“So my advice for you is to choose wisely.”

RELATED: Awkward moment as PM speaks at climate summit

Greta Thunberg: "How long do you honestly believe that people in power like you will get away with it? How long do you think you can continue to ignore the climate crisis, the global aspect of equity, and historic emissions without being held accountable?" pic.twitter.com/D8kSPBWykT

— The Hill (@thehill) April 22, 2021

As the committee moved to questions and answers, a Democratic Congresswoman, Katie Porter, asked Ms Thunberg for advice on what she should tell her young daughter about climate change.

“I told my nine-year-old daughter I was going to be speaking with you, and I said, ‘What do you think about climate change?’ And she said, ‘The Earth is on fire, and we’re all going to die soon.’ And I asked how that made you feel, and she said it made her feel ‘angry’,” said Ms Porter.

“What should I tell my daughter, and how should I help her and the youngest generation bear the emotional toll of the actions that we’re taking?”

“That’s a big question,” said Ms Thunberg.

“I know there are many young people who feel angry and sad, because of all the things some people are doing to this planet and to our futures.

“That’s very understandable. It would be strange if we didn’t feel that way, because then we wouldn’t have any empathy.

“But of course, there is still much hope. And if we choose to take action, then we can do this. There are unlimited things we can do, and if we choose to work together, there are no limits to what we can accomplish.

“Always the best medication against anger and anxiety is to take action yourself. So that’s what I would tell her, to take action herself, because that will make her feel so much better. That’s what it did to me at least, and so many others.”

Greta Thunberg.

Before her appearance, in a social media video captioned as “an emergency alert for the general public”, Ms Thunberg accused world leaders of setting “very insufficient targets”.

“We cannot be satisfied with something just because it is better than nothing,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mr Biden hosted a summit with leaders, including Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, to address climate change policy.

Various presidents, prime ministers and monarchs took turns boasting about their own countries’ efforts, and on occasion committing to new targets.

The US has now committed to halve its emissions by 2030.

Originally published as Greta Thunberg berates US politicians over climate change policies