Greta Thunberg urges MEPs to ‘panic like the house is on fire’

Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old Swedish climate activist, made an impassioned plea for the planet at the European Parliament on Tuesday (16 April), urging MEPs to “start panicking about climate change” rather than “waste time arguing about Brexit”.

In another impressive speech to EU officials, this time in front of the Parliament’s environment committee, Thunberg told MEPs that “I want you to act like the house is on fire. I want you to panic.”

The activist acknowledged that “some parties don’t want me here today because they so desperately don’t want to talk about climate breakdown” but reiterated that “it’s ok if you ignore me but you can’t ignore the science”.

Drawing parallels with Monday night’s tragic inferno that ripped through the roof of Paris’ Notre-Dame cathedral, Thunberg hoped “that our civilisation’s foundations are even stronger than Notre-Dame’s. I fear that they are not.”

She added that “if the house was falling apart, you wouldn’t waste time arguing about Brexit” and that “permanent and unprecedented changes” are needed, including making sure that emissions are cut by at least 50% by 2030. The current target is 40%.

[parzival]

Can we just address that these leaders are just playing with their phones...

[UhtredOfBamburgh]

Imagine if she asked them to panic like the house was on fire and they just got up screaming and fled the room

[isabelaldwinckle]

When she says that she’s 16 it sounds like it’s 60

[LAGoodz]

I wonder how many of those clappers flew to that “parliament” in business class ✈️⛽️🍾

[andc]

They all stand up and clap moved by her speech and then what? are they really going to do something?

[lucahannah]

can those people in the audience get off their phones like wtf

[jamesboyle]

Supposed World leaders being scolded by a child. That's funny. This shows just how useless the UN has become. 😂😂

[BlackBird]

Watching this I found myself more panicked than inspired. If those politicians were really moved they wouldn't be giving her a standing ovation.They'd be too shocked to even know how to respond. They are just giving a response that will appease the public.

[nikkirobbins]

"The good thing about science is that it's true whether you believe in it or not."

[mainsblanches]

This is sureal!!...can you imagine a 16 year old telling world leaders what too do???...let's get our thing together!!...

[lolouro]

And these children that you spit on as they try to change their worlds; are immune to your consultations, they are quite aware of what they are going through - David Bowie
(Breakfast club)

[christineespeintre]

where is childhood? her parents should be ashamed of this.

[Meekseek]

It's so obvious that none of what she reads from her script are her own words.

[sammarks]

But carbon taxes, what will the EU do with out carbon

[clarak.mallah]

All the masters and PHD holders are attentively listening to a child. What a blessing!

[AlizeeDefan]

Love this kid and her determination, guts and will power. She will persevere 🖖

[irenemcintosh]

Wish we could go back and let her grow up normally as possible- look where she is now

[StuMas]

Shows the level of intelligence of the EU muppets in the room. Being lectured by a child.

She has a point - we are doomed!

.

[wolfgangobermaier]

Deforrestation and ocean pullution have gone way too far indeed!

[notnek]

A total fraud and her parents need to be arrested for child abuse.