Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Mar 29, 2024

The Greta effect: How Thunberg became the world’s most famous teen

The Greta effect: How Thunberg became the world’s most famous teen

The Swedish activist arrived at Cop 26 in Glasgow to a mob of police, paparazzi and Gen-Z admirers - so how did an 18-year-old become Glasgow’s hottest VIP? Katie Strick charts the making of a mega-star

It might be hard to believe, that even Greta Thunberg - one of the most prolific climate campaigners on the planet - wasn’t sure if she was invited to this year’s COP 26 climate conference in Glasgow. “I don’t know. It’s very unclear. Not officially,” she told BBC presenter Andrew Marr in a checkered shirt and grey tracksuit bottoms ahead of the two-week event, which started last night.

But the Swedish 18-year-old’s arrival in Scotland on Saturday night is proof that you don’t need to make the formal guest list to be the biggest name at the party. In fact, breaking formalities is exactly what the teenage mega-star does best.

“Thank you for the very warm welcome,” Thunberg tweeted after she stepped off the train from London Euston in a characteristically understated response to her global fandom. Judging by the mob of police, paparazzi and Gen-Z admirers surrounding her (and posing for selfies) at Glasgow Central Station, hers was the conference’s hottest welcome yet.

Hype around the cult campaigner is nothing new - her school climate strikes, Fridays for Future, have galvanised teen movements around the world since they started in 2018. But the Greta Effect has reached fever-pitch since her arrival in the UK last week.


On Friday, she joined fossil fuel financing protesters at a ‘climate justice memorial’ outside the Lloyd’s HQ in the City of London and earlier that day she and fellow teen activist Vanessa Nakate met media leaders at the Natural History Museum. Their message was simple: power lies with the people.

Despite now being old enough to stand for election in her native Sweden, Thunberg says she doesn’t want to run for office (yet) because being outside politics is “more efficient” than inside its corridors of power.


“We need to reach a critical mass with people who are demanding change and right now it’s more efficient to do that on the streets,” she told Marr later in the weekend, saying anger around disrupters like Insulate Britain is good because “you need to p*** people off” to make things happen.

The teenager’s Glasgow itinerary is yet to be confirmed but insiders are expecting her to attend several demonstrations and speak at a rally hosted by the Cop26 Coalition. She was filmed ‘Rickrolling’ the audience at youth concert Climate Live in Stockholm last month, dancing to Rick Astley’s ‘Never Gunna Give You Up’ in front of a crowd – can fans expect a similar TikTok-worthy performance in Glasgow?


Thunberg is expected to meet youth climate campaigners during her fortnight in Scotland, but she hasn’t ruled out meeting world leaders, either. “I guess that will depend on the situation... I don’t see why these people want to meet with me, but yeah,” she said when asked if she’d meet US President Joe Biden, who is reportedly staying in Edinburgh during the conference and commuting to Glasgow his 18ft limousine nicknamed The Beast.

Fans say they’re holding out for a Biden-Thunberg selfie, while others say she should refuse to meet him and Boris Johnson to call out their hypocrisy of travelling there by plane. If rebelling is Thunberg’s superpower, perhaps refusing to meet the President will be the teenager’s strongest move yet.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Reports in Gaza: 5 dead from the impact of aid packages dropped by the USA
Apple warns against drying iPhones with rice
China Criticizes US for Vetoing UN Ceasefire Resolution in Gaza
In a recent High Court hearing, the U.S. argued that Julian Assange endangered lives by releasing classified information.
The U.S. vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, instead proposing its own six-week ceasefire plan contingent upon the release of all hostages held by Hamas
Prince William Urges End to Gaza Conflict
Saudi Arabia ranks first in UN index for e-government services in MENA
Israel has gone ‘beyond self-defence’ in Gaza, says Labour’s Streeting
EU Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza Conflict
Israel Records 20% Drop In GDP, War In Gaza Is The Reason
Saudi Arabia's FDI Inflows Grow with New International Standards
Venture Capitals Power Up Across MENA Region
Saudi Arabia Introduces Terms for 30-Year Income Tax Exemption for Multinational Companies
Saudi FM: Establishing Palestinian state is only pathway for Mideast stability
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died at the Arctic prison colony
Elon Musk's Starlink Gets License For Israel, Parts Of Gaza
Influencers Exploit X Platform for Profit Amidst Israel-Gaza Conflict
PM Modi Announces Opening Of New CBSE Office In Dubai
International Criminal Court's Chief "Deeply Concerned" By Rafah Bombing
January Funding for MENA Startups Totals $86.5 Million
Saudi Arabia accelerates digital economy growth through Nvidia partnership
Indian female military officers commend Saudi Arabia's progress and women's empowerment
Israel unveils tunnels underneath Gaza City headquarters of UN agency for Palestinian refugees
Israel deploys new military AI in Gaza war
Egypt threatens to suspend key peace treaty if Israel pushes into Gaza border town, officials say
Israel Utilizes AI Military Technology in Gaza Conflict
Saudi Arabia Warns Of A "Humanitarian Catastrophe" If Israel Moves On Rafah
China Warns Iran to Halt Houthi Attacks or Damage Trade Ties
US University To Shut Qatar Campus Due To "Heightened Mideast Instability"
Iran-backed hackers interrupt UAE TV streaming services with deepfake news
Facebook and Instagram Ban Iran's Supreme Leader
Finnish Airline, Finnair, is voluntarily weighing passengers to better estimate flight cargo weight
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken: The Israelis underwent dehumanization on 7.10, this does not give them the right to do this to others.
Defense Technology Showcase Held in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports rise 2.5% to $6bn in November 2023: GASTAT
UK Bans Misleading "Zero Emissions" Claims for Electric Cars
Gaza's Teen Inventor Sparks Light in Displacement
Netanyahu Rejects Ceasefire Proposal, Insists On Total Victory Over Hamas
Guterres appoints independent UNRWA review panel
Private Sector Employment Hits Record High with Over 11 Million Employees in January
Rolls-Royce Executive Encourages Saudi Women to Tap into Their Inner 'Superhero' for Success in Defense Industry
Saudi Arabia launches National Academy of Vehicles and Cars
Saudi Tourism Minister Reveals Plan for 250,000 New Hotel Rooms by 2030
SAR to more than double eastern network passenger capacity with new trains deal
Saudi Arabia Enhances National Defense with New Partnerships
Saudi Aramco Maintains Arab Light Crude Pricing to Asia for March
NEOM Establishes New York Office to Support Investors
Saudi Wealth Fund Draws in Over $25 Billion Worth of Investments in Three Years, Al-Rumayyan Reveals
ZATCA Cautions Against Scammer Schemes
INTRA Defense Technologies inaugurates drone factory in Riyadh
×