As the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change draws near, European and American media are focusing on various climate-related issues and events. Among these is the case of Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, once dubbed the "Environmental Girl," who is facing charges of public order disturbance.
Thunberg attended a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on November 15. ITV footage showed her appearing calm and even smiling during the proceedings. She, along with over 20 other environmental activists, could face fines up to 2,500 pounds ($3,069) if found guilty.
Support for Thunberg Outside the Court
Protesters from Greenpeace and Fossil Free London gathered outside the court, chanting slogans in support of Thunberg and holding banners with messages like "Oily Money Out" and "Make Polluters Pay."
Thunberg was arrested on October 17 during a protest outside London's Intercontinental Hotel, where an energy industry conference with representatives from Shell, Total, and Saudi Aramco was taking place. Hundreds of demonstrators participated, aiming to prevent delegates from entering the venue. Two activists climbed the building during the protest. Footage showed Thunberg negotiating with police while wearing a badge reading "Oily Money Out."
Over the years, Thunberg and her supporters have consistently called for the complete elimination of fossil fuels. However, their protest methods have often breached local public order regulations, leading to frequent arrests. On July 24, during a protest in Sweden with the group "Reclaim the Future," Thunberg was fined 4,500 Swedish Krona ($414) for blocking a road to stop an oil truck, defying police orders. This came just hours after a local court fined her 1,500 Swedish Krona for failing to comply with police orders during a June protest. In Sweden, non-compliance with police orders can lead to a maximum of six months in jail.
Thunberg has also faced legal issues in Norway and Germany this year for her involvement in protests.
Thunberg's Rise to Fame
Thunberg first gained attention at 15 for her protest activities. In the summer of 2018, she held a school strike outside the Swedish Parliament to urge the government to act on the climate crisis. This sparked a movement across Europe, with hundreds of thousands of young people joining the "Fridays For Future" school strike movement, protesting government climate policies every Friday.
In 2019, Thunberg's decision to travel to the United States on a "zero-emissions" boat for the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York was met with mixed reactions. The 14-day journey across the Atlantic was criticized when it was revealed that crew members had to fly between Sweden and the U.S. to transport the boat, resulting in higher carbon emissions. Thunberg was named Time magazine's Person of the Year in 2019, the youngest ever to receive this honor, and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize annually from 2019 to 2023.
Thunberg, who took a year off school in 2019 to participate in climate protests, graduated from high school at 20. It's unclear whether she plans to pursue university education. Her activism has had a significant impact on young people and she enjoys widespread popularity on social media, with 15 million followers on Instagram.
According to a survey by OFCOM, a British government organization overseeing television, mobile, and internet matters, 18% of Britons in 2019 became more active in environmental, political, and charitable support, with one-tenth signing petitions on social media. Nearly one-fifth of British 12-15-year-olds use social media to support organizations and causes they care about, a phenomenon dubbed the "Greta Effect."
As climate activists continue to raise awareness, countries are beginning to propose effective measures and collaborate to address the climate crisis. On the same day, China and the U.S. jointly released a new climate statement and announced the launch of the "2020s Enhanced Climate Action Workgroup." Both countries committed to accelerating their renewable energy deployment from now until 2030 to hasten the replacement of coal, oil, and gas power generation. COP28 Chair Sultan Jaber welcomed the statement, seeing it as a response to the international community's continuous call for climate action and raising the bar for the first global stocktake. He also noted that the consensus between China and the U.S. sends a clear signal that addressing climate challenges offers a unique opportunity to strengthen global unity in an increasingly turbulent world.
COP28, scheduled from November 30 to December 12 in Dubai, will focus on increasing resource efficiency and phasing out fossil fuels.
