These numbers also don’t include tipping points, most feedback loops nor additional warming hidden by toxic air pollution. They also rely on our generation removing astronomical amounts of previous generations’ CO2 out of the atmosphere with technologies that haven’t yet been invented at scale, and maybe never will.

  This is what it’s all about. This is what we are saying. This is not ‘opinions’ or political views. This is the current best available science, and the politics that even recognize this are still nowhere in sight.

  We teenagers are not scientists, nor are we politicians. But it seems many of us, apart from most others, understand the science. Because we have done our homework. If people really knew about these things they wouldn’t need to ask me why I’m so ‘passionate about climate change’.

  If people really were aware of this they wouldn’t need to ask us why we are school striking for the climate, taking it to the streets. If people really knew about the full consequences of the climate and ecological crisis they would join us in the streets. Moving on from words to action.

  To solve this, we need to start treating this crisis like a crisis. Because you cannot solve an emergency without treating it as one, without seeing the full picture. You cannot leave the responsibility to individuals, politicians, the market or other parts of the world to take. This has to include everything and everyone. And no one must be left behind.

  We cannot allow this crisis to continue to be a partisan political question. The climate and ecological crisis is far beyond party politics. And the main enemy right now should not be any political opponents. Because our main enemy right now is physics.

  Some people say that we are fighting for our future. But we are not fighting for our future. We are fighting for everyone’s future. And if you think we should be in school instead – then we suggest that you take our place out in the streets. Or better yet – join us so we can speed up the process.

  A year ago we were just a handful of schoolchildren. Today we are over 7.5 million people. If that is possible then just imagine what we could do together if we really wanted to.

  We Are a Wave of Change

  Vancouver, October 25, 2019

  I would like to begin by acknowledging that we are fortunate to be able to gather on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish people, particularly the unceded traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

  We, of course, today stand in solidarity with the young plaintiffs who are suing the Canadian government today.

  It is always so hopeful to see this every Friday. This is a movement with millions upon millions of people telling world leaders to act on the science and demanding a safe future for us and for everyone. And together we will make a change.

  I’m honored to stand next to Severn Cullis-Suzuki, who addressed world leaders during the first COP in Rio de Janeiro 1992. Twenty-seven years ago at the age of twelve she said:

  ‘At school, even in kindergarten, you teach us how to behave in the world. You teach us not to fight with others, to work things out, to respect others, to clean up our mess, not to hurt other creatures, to share, not be greedy. Then, why do you go out and do the things you tell us not to do? I am fighting for my future. Losing my future is not like losing an election, or a few points on the stock market.’

  Severn Cullis-Suzuki told the world everything the world needed to know twenty-seven years ago. The science told our leaders what they needed to know, twenty-seven years ago.

  If people would have listened back then, the world would be a completely different place than it is today.

  But the world did not listen. And world leaders continue choosing to look the other way.

  According to the Global Carbon Atlas, global CO2 emissions have increased by 65 per cent from 1992 to 2018. Around 50 per cent of all CO2 emitted since 1751 has been emitted since 1992.

  If world leaders would have started taking action when this crisis became known to them, imagine the sufferings that could have been prevented.

  It is shameful that for so long the ongoing climate and ecological emergency has been ignored. It is the year 2019 and people in power are still acting as if there was no tomorrow.

  We young people are telling you to stop doing that. To stop ignoring the consequences of your actions and inactions. To stop leaving your mess for someone else to clean up. Because we don’t want to do it for you. The people in power need to realize what they are doing to future generations, to us and especially people in other parts of the world who are already suffering from the consequences of the climate and ecological emergency.

  If the adults really loved us they would at least do everything they possibly could to make sure that we had a safe future, a future to look forward to. But they are not doing that. As it is now it feels like they are doing the exact opposite. That they are desperately trying to change the subject every time this comes up, that they are trying so hard to delay the actions required to prevent this crisis from getting worse.

  Because they are so afraid of being unpopular and to make uncomfortable decisions. It is like they are selling our futures in exchange for comfort and profit.

  And yet they have the nerve to look us in the eyes, lie and say they are doing enough. Well, whatever they are doing they are doing it wrong. We are starting to see through their lies and we will hold them accountable for their actions.

  We will be a constant reminder that they are failing.

  And that constant reminder is what we are today, and every Friday when we strike, every single day that goes by without sufficient action being taken and when the science is being ignored.

  We are not just some kids skipping school or some adults who are not going to work. We are a wave of change and together we are unstoppable. We will rise to the challenge, hold those who are most responsible for this crisis accountable and make the world leaders act.

  We can, and we will.

  And if you feel threatened by that – then I have some very bad news for you – this is just the beginning of the beginning. Change is coming whether you like it or not.

  The People Are the Hope

  Charlotte, November 8, 2019

  We recognize that we are standing on colonized, indigenous land that once belonged to proud Cherokee, Catawba, Saponi and Congaree peoples. In acknowledging the enormous injustices inflicted upon these people we must also mention the many enslaved and indentured servants whose labor the world still profits from today.

  For well over a year, young people have been striking from school, demanding the world leaders to take responsibility and to unite behind the science. Our leaders have not yet done that. The people in power continue to ignore us, and to ignore the current best available science. So we have no choice but to go on. For as long as it takes.

  The last months I’ve had the privilege to travel around in North America. I’ve visited so many incredible places and met so many inspiring people.

  It can be hard in times like these to find hope, and I can tell you I’ve not found much hope in politicians or corporations. It is the people who are our biggest source of hope right now. People are the hope.

  Humanity is now standing at a crossroads. When we look back at this crucial time we want to be able to say that we did everything we possibly could to push in the right direction. And while we young people may not be able to vote or make decisions in today’s society, we have something just as powerful. Our voices. And we need to use them, whether it is by making the adults around us vote, or to put pressure on the people in power and politicians who are supposed to serve us or to spread awareness among those our own age and urge them to do the same thing.

  Young people are the future. But there’s not enough time to wait for us to grow up and become the ones in charge. We need to tackle the climate and ecological emergency now. And if the adults and people in power are too immature to realize that then we have to let them know. Right now. Because this is our future. And we will not let it be taken away from us.

  I think the tipping point we are all waiting for is when we – the people – will truly realize what we together can accomplish. We know that tipping point will come. The question is just when.

  No matter how bad the odds may be we will never give up, that is simply not an option.

  The people are the hope. And as long as we stay united there are no limits to what we can do. We are the change, and change is coming whether you like it or not.

  There Is Hope

  UN Climate Change Conference COP 25

  Madrid, December 11, 2019

  A year and a half ago I didn’t speak to anyone unless I really had to. But then I found a reason to speak. Since then I’ve given many speeches, and learnt that when you talk in public you should start with something personal or emotional to get everyone’s attention. Say things like our house is on fire, I want you to panic or how dare you.

  But today I will not do that. Because then those phrases are all that people focus on. They don’t remember the facts, the very reason why I say those things in the first place. We no longer have time to leave out the science. For about a year I’ve been constantly talking about our rapidly declining carbon budgets. Over and over again. But since that is still being ignored, I will just keep repeating it.

  In chapter 2, on page 108 in the SR1.5 IPCC report that came out last year, it says that if we are to have a 67 per cent chance of limiting the global temperature rise to below 1.5°C, we had, on January 1, 2018, about 420 gigatonnes of CO2 left to emit in that carbon dioxide budget. And of course that number is much lower today. As we emit about 42 gigatonnes of CO2 every year, including land use.

  With today’s emissions levels, that remaining budget will be gone within eight years.

  These numbers aren’t anyone’s opinions or political views. This is the current best available science. Though many scientists suggest these figures are too moderate, these are the ones that have been accepted through the IPCC.

  And please note that these figures are global and therefore do not say anything about the aspect of equity, which is absolutely necessary to make the Paris Agreement work on a global scale.

  That means that richer countries need to do their fair share and get down to ‘real zero’ emissions much faster, and then help poorer countries do the same, so that people in less fortunate parts of the world can raise their living standards.

  The numbers also don’t include most feedback loops, nonlinear tipping points and additional warming hidden by toxic air pollution. Most models, however, assume that future generations will somehow be able to suck hundreds of billions of tonnes of CO2 out of the air with technologies that do not exist in the scale required and maybe never will. The approximate 67 per cent chance budget is the one with the highest odds given by the IPCC. And now we have less than 340 gigatonnes of CO2 left to emit in that budget to share fairly.

  And why is it so important to stay below 1.5°C? Because even at 1°C people are dying from climate change and ecosystems are collapsing. Because that is what the united science calls for to avoid destabilizing the climate – so that we have the best possible chance to avoid setting off irreversible chain reactions such as melting glaciers, polar ice and thawing permafrost. Every fraction of a degree matters.

  So there it is again. This is my message. This is what I want you to focus on. So please tell me, how do you react to these numbers without feeling at least some level of panic? How do you respond to the fact that basically nothing is being done about this, without feeling the slightest bit of anger? And how do you communicate this without sounding alarmist? I would really like to know.

  Since the Paris Agreement global banks have invested 1.9 trillion dollars in fossil fuels.

  One hundred companies are responsible for 71 per cent of global emissions. The G20 countries account for almost 80 per cent of total emissions.

  The richest 10 per cent of the world’s population produce half of our CO2 emissions while the poorest 50 per cent account for just one tenth.

  We indeed have some work to do, but some more than others.

  Recently a handful of rich countries pledged to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases by so and so many per cent and by this or that date. Or to become ‘climate neutral’ or ‘net zero’ in so and so many years.

  This may sound impressive at first glance. But even though the intentions may be good, this is not leadership. This is not leading, this is misleading. Because most of these pledges do not include aviation, shipping, and imported and exported consumption. They do, however, include the possibility for countries to ‘offset’ their emissions elsewhere.

  These pledges don’t include the immediate yearly reduction rates needed for wealthy countries – which is necessary to stay within the tiny remaining budget. Zero in 2050 means nothing. If high emissions continue even for a few years, then the remaining budget will be gone.

  Without seeing the full picture, we will not solve this crisis. Finding holistic solutions is what the COP should be all about. But instead it seems to have turned into an opportunity for countries to negotiate loopholes and avoid raising their ambition.

  Countries are finding clever ways around having to take real action. Like double counting emissions reductions. And moving their emissions overseas. And walking back on their promises to enhance ambition.

  And refusing to pay for solutions or loss and damage.

  This has to stop. What we need is real, drastic emission cuts at the source. But of course just reducing emissions is not enough. Our greenhouse gas emissions have to stop. To stay below 1.5°C we need to keep the carbon in the ground.

  Only setting up distant dates, and saying things which give the impression that action is under way will most likely do more harm than good – because the changes required are still nowhere in sight. The politics needed do not exist today despite all the fancy words you might hear from world leaders.

  And I still believe the biggest danger is not inaction. The real danger is when politicians and CEOs are making it look like real action is happening, when in fact almost nothing is being done, apart from clever accounting and creative PR.

  I have been fortunate enough to be able to travel around the world. And my experience is that the lack of awareness is the same everywhere. Not the least amongst those elected to lead us.

  There is no sense of urgency whatsoever. Our leaders are not behaving as if we were in an emergency. In an emergency, you change your behavior.

  If there is a child standing in the middle of the road, and cars are coming at full speed, you don’t look away because it is too uncomfortable. You immediately run out and rescue that child.

  And without that sense of urgency, how can we, the people, understand that we are facing a real crisis? And if the people are not fully aware of what is going on, then they will not put pressure on their elected leaders to act. And without pressure from the people, our leaders can get away with doing basically nothing. Which is where we are now. And around and around it goes.

  In just three weeks we will enter a new decade. A decade that will define our future. Right now we are desperate for any sign of hope.

  Well, I am telling you there is hope. I have seen it. But it does not come from governments or corporations. It comes from the people.

  The people who have been unaware of the climate and environmental emergency but are now starting to wake up. And once we become aware, we change. People can change. People are ready for change. And that is the hope because we have democracy.

  And democracy is happening all the time, not just on election day but every second and every hour. It is public opinion that runs the free world. In fact, every great change throughout history has come from the people. We do not have to wait. We can start the change right now. We, the people.

  Our House Is Still on Fire

  World Economic Forum

  Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2020

  One year ago I came to Davos and told you that our house is on fire. I said I wanted you to panic. I’ve been warned that telling people to panic about the climate crisis is a very dangerous thing to do. But don’t worry. It’s fine. Trust me, I’ve done this before and I assure you it doesn’t lead to anything.

  And for the record, when we children tell you to panic we’re not telling you to go on like before. We’re not telling you to rely on technologies that don’t even exist today at scale and that science says perhaps never will.

  We are not telling you to keep talking about reaching ‘net zero emissions’ or ‘carbon neutrality’ by cheating and fiddling around with numbers.

  We are not telling you to ‘offset your emissions’ by just paying someone else to plant trees in places like Africa while at the same time forests like the Amazon are being slaughtered at an infinitely higher rate.

  Planting trees is good, of course, but it’s nowhere near enough of what needs to be done, and it cannot replace real mitigation or rewilding nature.

  Let’s be clear. We don’t need a ‘low carbon economy’. We don’t need to ‘lower emissions’. Our emissions have to stop. And until we have the technologies that at scale can put our emissions to minus, then we must forget about net zero – we need real zero.

  Because distant net zero emission targets will mean absolutely nothing if we just continue to ignore the carbon dioxide budget – which applies for today, not distant future dates. If high emissions continue like now, even for a few years, that remaining budget will soon be completely used up.

 

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