The Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg used the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day to pass on a message to the world. She urged the people to assign a priority to the climate crisis on the lines of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Comparing the two, she said the strong global response to COVID-19 was an example of how humanity can ring in changes when a situation like a coronavirus takes hold. It was a killer disease and people could see death all around them. That forced them to heed the advice of scientists and they should do the same for the climate crisis.

The Guardian says in view of COVID-19, Greta was unable to have any direct interaction with her audience. Therefore, she opted for a virtual meeting from the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm. She participated in a digital conversation via YouTube with Johan Rockström. He is the earth systems scientist and director of the Potsdam Institute.

Greta’s message to her followers was clear. She said - “Whether we like it or not, the world has changed. It looks completely different now from how it did a few months ago. It may never look the same again.

We have to choose a new way forward.”

There is a need to focus on climate crisis says, Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg is a teenager but she has matured fast. Her arguments hold water, especially the comparison between COVID-19 and climate crisis. The sudden appearance of the coronavirus has unsettled the world and authorities are trying to clutch at every possible straw to survive.

The climate crisis, if not checked in time, could snowball into something similar. She cautions that during a crisis like COVID-19, there are possibilities that certain groups would try to exploit the situation and push ahead their own selfish agenda. She cautions – “We need to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Johan Rockström explains about the close links between the health of humans and the health of our planet.

An environmental crisis like deforestation coupled with wildlife trade leads to the likelihood of the spread of viruses. Air pollution and air travel aggravate the spread of epidemics.

The Guardian quotes the earth systems scientist saying - “The scientific evidence shows they are interconnected and part of the same planetary crisis.” The pandemic is a pointer to the fact that the governments should pay heed to scientific warnings and not ignore them. The UN secretary-general, António Guterres declared the pandemic to be the biggest threat to the world since WWII and added that the environmental emergency was deeper.

Greta Thunberg and 50th anniversary of Earth Day

According to The Independent UK, climate activist Greta Thunberg shared her thoughts on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with other prominent personalities.

They included former US President Barack Obama, the Pope, and naturalist Sir David Attenborough.

The first Earth Day was on 22 April 1970. After half a century, the time has come when the world has to wake up to reality and evolve solutions to save our planet from environmental challenges. Greta has been the inspiration for the youth to draw attention to the issue of Climate change.

As she says – “The changes needed to safeguard future living conditions for all species won’t come from governments or businesses. It will come from the best available science and public opinion.”

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is unstoppable

Ever since Greta arrived in a sailboat in America, she has been in the news.

Her country Sweden has nominated Greta Thunberg for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize.

She is a crusader and wants the world to realize that climate change is reversible provided people modify their lifestyles. She has had her say through various global forums she attended and does not hesitate to call a spade a spade. Her fan following among the youth is also impressive. Moreover, the Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was named author of the year.
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