Greta Thunberg: 10 Surprising Facts You Never Knew

10 powerful facts about Greta Thunberg. Her early activism to global climate strikes, famous speeches, and awards. Bet you didn't know.

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Greta Thunberg didn’t wait to grow up to change the world. While most 15-year-olds were stressing over math tests, she was standing outside parliament with a sign. And she meant it.

In just a few years, Greta turned from a quiet kid in Sweden to the global face of climate activism.

Some love her, question her ways, and some just want to know what all the hype is about. These 10 facts will inform you how Greta became a movement.

Who is Greta Thunberg?

Greta Thunberg is a climate activist from Sweden who began making headlines at just 15. But her story didn’t start there.

Born on January 3, 2003, in Stockholm, she’s the daughter of an opera singer and an actor. So speaking up runs in the family. Greta’s journey began when she first learned about climate change at age eight. That knowledge lead to a deep emotional struggle and a diagnosis of Asperger’s, OCD, and selective mutism.

But Greta didn’t see that as a weakness. She called her autism a superpower. She stopped flying, turned vegan, and launched the Fridays for Future movement.

Her school strike outside the Swedish parliament exploded into a global protest. Millions of young people across 160+ countries joined in.

Her fiery speeches at the UN made a huge roar. She was later awarded Time’s Person of the Year.

10 Facts About Greta Thunberg

  1. Birth and Family
    Greta Thunberg was born on January 3, 2003, in Stockholm, Sweden. Her mother is an opera singer, and her father is an actor.
  2. Early Awareness
    She learned about climate change when she was just eight years old.
  3. Mental Health Struggles
    At age 11, Greta became very sad and stopped talking and eating for a while. Doctors later found she had Asperger’s syndrome, OCD, and selective mutism.
  4. Autism as a Superpower
    Greta says her autism helps her focus and see things clearly. She calls it her superpower.
  5. Lifestyle Changes
    Greta became vegan and stopped flying on airplanes to help the planet.
  6. Fridays for Future.
    In 2018, at age 15, she started skipping school to protest outside the Swedish parliament for climate action.
  7. Global Movement
    Her protest inspired millions of students in over 160 countries to join climate strikes.
  8. Famous Speeches
    Greta has spoken at the United Nations, World Economic Forum, and other big events. Her “How dare you” speech went viral.
  9. Awards and Recognition
    She has won many awards. Time magazine named her Person of the Year in 2019.
  10. Ongoing Activism
    Greta graduated high school in 2023 but keeps fighting for climate justice.

FAQ About Greta Thunberg

1. Who is Greta Thunberg?

Greta Thunberg is a young climate activist from Sweden who started the Fridays for Future movement.

2. What is Fridays for Future?

It is a global movement where students skip school on Fridays to protest for climate action.

3. Why did Greta become famous?

She became famous for starting school strikes and speaking up to world leaders about climate change.

4. What is Greta’s main message?

She wants adults and leaders to take urgent action to stop climate change.

5. What has Greta achieved?

She has inspired millions, won many awards, and changed how many people think about the environment.

Conclusion

Love her or roll your eyes. Greta Thunberg’s impact is undeniable.

She turned a solo protest into a worldwide movement. She gave climate change a younger voice, and proved that age isn’t a barrier to influence.

With school behind her and activism still front and center, Greta’s not slowing down anytime soon. And whether or not the world listens, she’s already changed the game.


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