Jump directly to the content
GOOD GRETA

Who is Greta Thunberg and what’s her net worth?

GRETA Thunberg turned a local campaign into a global movement - and now she's the face of climate activism.

Here's everything you need to know about the youngster trying to change the world.

 Greta Thunberg was awarded the inaugural Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity in 2020
2
Greta Thunberg was awarded the inaugural Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity in 2020Credit: AP:Associated Press

Who is Greta Thunberg?

Greta Thunberg is a Swedish youngster who skipped school to protest and sparked an international climate change revolution in the process.

She rose to global notoriety in May 2018, after she began protesting outside the Swedish parliament demanding that they take action to meet the carbon emissions target agreed upon by world leaders in 2015.

Her protests, which she would resume every Friday instead of going to school, went viral on social media where support for her cause quickly grew.

This sparked similar protests around the world which were spread with the hashtag #FridaysForFuture.

Since then, the 20-year-old activist has confronted world leaders and made speeches all over the world at a number of activist climate change events.

Greta also has Asperger's syndrome - a developmental disorder - which she hasn't let stop her on her mission. Instead, she has used it as a driving force, often describing it as a 'superpower.'

What is Greta Thunberg's net worth?

Greta Thunberg’s net worth is estimated to be $1million.

In July 2020, Greta Thunberg was awarded $1.15million for her humanitarian work when she won the inaugural Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity.

However, the young activist said she would be donating the prize money to sustainability charities.

When was Greta Thunberg named Time Magazine Person of the Year?

In December 2019, the Swedish-born activist was named Time Magazine's 2019 Person of the Year.

She is the youngest person ever to receive the accolade at age 16 and has become a global icon for speaking out on climate change.

Greta was featured on the cover of the magazine standing on a rocky shore, with splashing waves.

The headline: "The Power Of Youth" was emblazoned on it, as was the name of the award.

In the magazine, she is quoted as saying: "I’d like to tell my grandchildren that we did everything we could.
"And we did it for them — for the generations to come.”

What did she say at the UN Climate action summit?

Greta delivered an impassioned speech to world leaders at the 2019 summit, saying they had “stolen my childhood” with their “empty words."

She told leaders they would never be forgiven if they failed to tackle rising temperatures.

"People are suffering, people are dying, entire ecosystems are collapsing, we are in the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and the fairy tale of endless economic growth. How dare you?" she asked.

 Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg
2
Swedish climate activist Greta ThunbergCredit: AFP - Getty

The teenager said emissions should be cut to keep temperatures rising to 1.5C, beyond which scientists have warned the impacts of climate change become much more severe.

And she warned that the situation could not be solved by "business as usual" and some technological solutions.

Donald Trump, who has shown his skepticism for Greta's views, seemed unamused by the speech, leaving just 15 minutes after arriving.

What inspired Greta to become a climate change campaigner?

Greta first heard about climate change when she was 8 years old.

This interest developed and at age 15, she won a climate change essay competition in a local newspaper.

Still, Greta felt not enough was being done to improve the climate.

In 2018, she decided to take action and compelled global leaders to make a change.

When she was named the Time's person of the year in 2019, she told the publication, "We can’t just continue living as if there was no tomorrow, because there is a tomorrow.”

 


Topics