Following her visit to the European Parliament during the plenary session, Greta THUNBERG, Climate activist gives a press point: extracts

Strasbourg

press point

fight against climate change (T)

THUNBERG, Greta (SE)

Press point by Greta THUNBERG, Climate activist: extracts from the press point

SOUNDBITE (English), Greta THUNBERG, Climate activist, My name is Greta Thunberg. I am climate activist in Sweden and I received an invitation to speak in here and I accepted it because this is a great opportunity. To get out a message and to sort of speak on behalf of the young people who share the same concern as me, concerns about the climate crisis and ecological breakdown. So. So yeah. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Greta THUNBERG, Climate activist, (answering to a Question by journalist: Tomorrow you are going to meet the the Pope.) What are you going to tell the Pope. I don't know yet. But probably something about climate

SOUNDBITE (English), Greta THUNBERG, Climate activist,  To the young Europeans fighting for their future. I would say that's we should continue because you are doing a great job. And there has been hundreds and thousands of students in Europe only who have been in school striking for the climate. And they have made history I think. So They should be very proud of themselves. And also. Right to this moment there is a demonstration taking place in Strasbourg.

SOUNDBITE (English), Greta THUNBERG, Climate activist, answering to a Question by journalist: What do you expect from European politicians, what do they have to do? I expect them to do to take action now. Because. There's not much time. We still have an open window that is not going to be open for long. And in which we can act. So we need to take this opportunity to. Do something. And they should really do something.

SOUNDBITE (English), Greta THUNBERG, Climate activist, I think it's essential to vote in the European election. I am not going to vote in the European election because I can't. So therefore it's especially important for those who actually can vote to use that in order to speak on behalf of people like me who are going to be affected very much by this crisis. And we don't have much to say about this so. They should really take that opportunity to, take a chance to influence the decisions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Greta THUNBERG, Climate activist, There are many things young people can do to change the situation, to improve the situation. Especially I think to put pressure on people in power and older generations because they are the ones who can influence the most. But also there are many things we can do as well on an individual level to change our habits for instance to try to live as carbon neutral as possible. But I think the most important thing they can do is to try to understand the full meaning of the situation and what is happening and what is going on and what is required to stop that from happening.

SOUNDBITE (English), Greta THUNBERG, Climate activist, I feel happy that my that I am doing something that, is I feel needed. I feel like I am doing something important and that I think is very important for people to feel. Because many people don't feel that today in that is sad because more people should feel like that.

SOUNDBITE (English), Greta THUNBERG, Climate activist, (answering to a Question by journalist: Now you had quite many meetings with political leaders). Do you feel that they listen to you? That we will have to see if they take action now. But I hope they are listening.