Just 16, @GretaThunberg is already one of our planet’s greatest advocates. Recognizing that her generation will bear the brunt of climate change, she’s unafraid to push for real action. She embodies our vision at the @ObamaFoundation: A future shaped by young leaders like her. pic.twitter.com/VgCPAaDp3C
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 17, 2019
Greta Thunberg, the 16 year old Swedish environmental activist, met with former President Barack Obama on Monday while visiting Washington D.C. to promote her fight against climate change.
Thunberg, the young superstar of climate change protests, rose to fame with her weekly protests outside the Swedish parliament. This inspired thousands of young people from around the world to join with her and to start their own environmental awareness efforts. She's become a major activist on the world stage and has been the subject of both admiration from world leaders and derision from far right commentators.
After traveling by boat to the United States to attend climate summits, Thunberg visited Washington D.C. and met with Barack Obama, whose foundation released photos of their meeting. Obama asked Thunberg about recent climate strikes she participated in while she visited New York and Washington.
"Everyone is so nice and all of these young people seem so eager, very enthusiastic which is a very good thing," she said.
Thunberg traveled by boat to attend the rallys to leave a smaller carbon footprint. She's returning to New York for a climate change summit scheduled September 23rd. Her journey caught the attention of former President Obama, who championed environmental issues during his presidency. President Trump, on the other hand, is a climate change denier who has gutted the Environmental Protection Agency.
Before the two fist-bumped, Obama said to Thunberg: "You and me, we're a team."
From the CNN article:
In 2017, Obama lamented Trump for withdrawing the US from the Paris climate agreement, saying in a statement that the deal was intended to "protect the world we leave to our children."
Thunberg said in the Obama Foundation's video that creativity from young people is key.
"My message to young people who want to have an impact is to be creative," she said "There's so incredibly much you can do and to not underestimate yourself."
