Early Life and Education of Greta Thunberg: A Complete Timeline
Discover the defining moments in the early life of Greta Thunberg. From birth to education, explore key events.
Greta Thunberg is a Swedish environmental activist who gained international recognition for her direct and confrontational approach to addressing climate change. Beginning with school strikes outside the Swedish parliament in 2018, her activism sparked a global movement, Fridays for Future, where students worldwide protest to demand climate action. Thunberg has addressed the United Nations and other world leaders, criticizing their lack of urgency and commitment to reducing emissions. She advocates for immediate and drastic measures based on scientific consensus, making her a prominent and influential voice in the climate change debate.
January 2003: Greta Thunberg Born
Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg was born on January 3, 2003, in Stockholm, Sweden. Her parents are opera singer Malena Ernman and actor Svante Thunberg. Her paternal grandfather was actor and director Olof Thunberg.
2008: Climate Change Act 2008
In response to her outspoken stance, politicians have acknowledged the need to focus on climate change. Labour politician Ed Miliband, who was responsible for introducing the Climate Change Act 2008, said, "You have woken us up. Thank you. All the young people who have gone on strike have held up a mirror to our society ... you have taught us all a really important lesson. You have stood out from the crowd."
2011: Learns About Climate Change
In 2011, at age eight, Greta Thunberg first learned about climate change, which led to depression and, at age 11, significant weight loss. She was later diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and selective mutism.
May 2015: Diagnosis Made Public
In May 2015, Greta Thunberg's mother publicly revealed her diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome in Sweden. Greta considers her Asperger's her "superpower".
February 2018: Inspired by School Shooting Activism
In February 2018, Greta Thunberg was inspired by the activism following school shootings in the United States, which led to her idea for a climate strike.
May 2018: Wins Climate Change Essay Competition
In May 2018, Greta Thunberg won a climate change essay competition held by Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet, expressing her desire to feel safe in the face of the climate crisis.
August 2018: Begins School Climate Strikes
In August 2018, Greta Thunberg began her school climate strikes and public speeches, rising to international recognition as a climate activist.
August 2018: Start of school strike
In August 2018, Greta Thunberg began her school strike for climate activism.
August 2018: Begins School Strike for Climate
In August 2018, at the age of 15, Greta Thunberg began skipping school to protest climate change outside the Swedish parliament. She held a "Skolstrejk för Klimatet" (School Strike for Climate) sign, handed out flyers, and vowed to continue striking every Friday until Sweden complied with the Paris Agreement.
2018: Addresses United Nations Climate Change Conference
In 2018, Greta Thunberg addressed the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which led to weekly climate strike protests around the world.
2018: Reference to the IPCC's Special Report
In 2018, the IPCC's Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C detailed the importance of the greenhouse gas emissions curve starting to decline steeply by 2020, a point that Thunberg has repeatedly emphasized.
2018: Family's Story Recounted in Book
In 2018, the Thunberg family's story was recounted in the book Scenes from the Heart, co-authored by the entire family. The book details the family's journey towards adopting a more sustainable lifestyle to reduce their carbon footprint.
2018: Activism Evolved
Throughout the autumn of 2018, Greta Thunberg's activism evolved from a solitary protest to taking part in demonstrations throughout Europe, making several high-profile public speeches, and mobilizing her followers on social media platforms.
January 2019: Speaks at World Economic Forum
In January 2019, Greta Thunberg spoke at the World Economic Forum, declaring "Our house is on fire."
February 2019: Academics' Support
In February 2019, 224 academics signed an open letter expressing their support for Greta Thunberg and the striking school children, acknowledging the significance of their actions in raising awareness.
February 2019: EU Budget Allocation for Climate Action
In February 2019, Greta Thunberg shared a stage with the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, where he outlined that every fourth euro spent within the EU budget from 2021 to 2027 would go towards climate change mitigation.
February 2019: Speech at European Economic and Social Committee Conference
In February 2019, at a conference of the European Economic and Social Committee, Greta Thunberg stated that the EU's intention to cut emissions by 40% by 2030 was insufficient and that the EU needed to reduce CO2 emissions by 80%.
March 2019: Regular Protests Outside Swedish Parliament
By March 2019, Greta Thunberg was still staging her regular protests outside the Swedish parliament every Friday.
April 2019: Address to British Parliament
In April 2019, Greta Thunberg addressed the British Parliament, criticizing world leaders for insufficient action on global emissions. She emphasized the need to reduce emissions to zero and urged politicians to listen to scientists.
May 2019: UN Secretary-General's Endorsement
In May 2019, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres endorsed the school strikes initiated by Greta Thunberg, admitting that his generation had failed to address climate change adequately and that it was up to the youth to save the planet.
May 2019: European Parliament Election Results
In May 2019, climate issues played a significant role in the European Parliament election, with Green parties achieving their best results, increasing their MEP seats from 52 to 72, partly due to young people inspired by Thunberg.
June 2019: Increase in Rail Travel in Sweden
In June 2019, Swedish Railways (SJ) reported that the number of Swedes taking the train for domestic journeys had risen by 8% from the previous year, reflecting growing public concern about the impact of flying on CO2 emissions.
June 2019: Increased Public Concern About the Environment
In June 2019, a YouGov poll in Britain showed that public concern about the environment had risen to record levels in the UK due to Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion.
July 2019: Takes a Sabbatical Year
In July 2019, Time magazine reported that Greta Thunberg was taking a sabbatical year from school to travel in the Americas and address COP25.
August 2019: Sails Across Atlantic
In August 2019, Greta Thunberg sailed across the Atlantic Ocean from Plymouth, England, to New York City on the Malizia II yacht, equipped with solar panels and underwater turbines, to demonstrate the importance of reducing emissions.
August 2019: Increased Sales of Children's Books About Climate Crisis
In August 2019, the publication and sales of children's books about the climate crisis reportedly doubled compared to the previous year, attributed to the "Greta effect."
September 2019: Attended UN Climate Action Summit
In September 2019, Greta Thunberg attended the UN Climate Action Summit in New York City. She also participated in a press conference hosted by UNICEF, along with 15 other children including Ayakha Melithafa, Alexandria Villaseñor, Catarina Lorenzo, and Carl Smith.
September 2019: Attendance at UN Climate Summit
In September 2019, Greta Thunberg attended the United Nations Climate Summit in New York City, following a two-week sea voyage across the Atlantic Ocean from Europe.
September 2019: Support from US Presidential Candidates
In September 2019, following Greta Thunberg's speech at the action summit in New York, several Democratic candidates for the 2020 United States presidential election, including Kamala Harris, Beto O'Rourke, and Bernie Sanders, expressed their support.
September 2019: Participated in climate protests in Canada and the US
In late September 2019, Greta Thunberg participated in climate protests in several cities in Canada and the United States. She led a climate rally in Montreal as part of the Global Climate Strike on September 27, 2019. She also participated in protests in New York City, Washington, D.C., Iowa City, Los Angeles, Charlotte, Denver, and the Standing Rock Indian Reservation.
November 2019: Sailed across the Atlantic to attend COP25
In November 2019, after the COP25 was moved to Madrid, Spain, Greta Thunberg sailed from Hampton, Virginia, to Lisbon, Portugal, aboard the catamaran La Vagabonde, offered by Riley Whitelum and Elayna Carausu, to avoid air travel due to its carbon emissions. She departed on November 13, 2019.
December 2019: Arrived in Lisbon and spoke at COP25
In December 2019, Greta Thunberg arrived in Lisbon, Portugal, and traveled to Madrid to speak at the COP25 and participate in climate strikes. During a press conference, she called for more "concrete action," noting that school strikes had "achieved nothing" as greenhouse gas emissions had risen by 4% since 2015.
December 2019: Speech in Madrid on Climate Change and Global South
In December 2019, Greta Thunberg spoke in Madrid about the disproportionate effect of climate change on young people and the Global South, emphasizing that the Global South will suffer most despite contributing the least to carbon emissions. She said "We talk about our future, they talk about their present."
December 2019: Increased Donations and Awareness
In December 2019, the New Scientist described the impact made by Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion with the headline: "The year the world woke up to climate change." Inspired by Thunberg, wealthy philanthropists and investors from the United States have donated about $600,000 to support Extinction Rebellion and school strike groups to establish the Climate Emergency Fund.
December 2019: Guest editor of BBC Radio's Today Programme
On December 30, 2019, Greta Thunberg served as the guest editor of BBC Radio's flagship current affairs program, the Today Programme. Her edition featured interviews on climate change with figures such as Sir David Attenborough and Bank of England chief Mark Carney.
2019: Addresses UN Climate Action Summit
In 2019, Greta Thunberg sailed from England to New York to address the UN Climate Action Summit, where she scolded world leaders with the phrase "How dare you" regarding their inaction on the climate crisis.
2019: Spearheading the Anti-Flying Movement
In 2019, Thunberg spearheaded the anti-flying movement, promoting rail travel over flying on environmental grounds, associating it with the concept of "flight shame".
January 2020: Called on Siemens to stop delivery to Carmichael coal mine
On January 11, 2020, Greta Thunberg called on German company Siemens to halt the delivery of railway equipment to the controversial Carmichael coal mine in Australia. However, on January 13, Siemens declined her request, stating that it would honor its existing contract.
January 2020: Returned to the World Economic Forum in Davos
On January 21, 2020, Greta Thunberg returned to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, delivering two speeches and participating in panel discussions. She reiterated her previous themes, emphasizing that "Our house is still on fire."
February 2020: Met with Malala Yousafzai at Oxford University
In February 2020, Greta Thunberg traveled to Oxford University to meet with Malala Yousafzai, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and activist for female education. Following this, Thunberg joined a school strike in Bristol.
March 2020: Moved climate strike activities online due to COVID-19
In March 2020, amidst the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Greta Thunberg and School Strike for Climate transitioned their activities online. On March 13, 2020, Thunberg emphasized the importance of adapting to new circumstances for the greater good of society during a crisis.
March 2020: Attended European Parliament Environment Committee meeting
On March 4, 2020, Greta Thunberg attended a meeting of the European Parliament's Environment Committee to discuss the European Climate Law. She stated that she considered the European Commission's new proposal for a climate law to be a surrender.
July 2020: Open Letter to EU Leaders Regarding Ecocide
In July 2020, Greta Thunberg, along with other activists, wrote an open letter to EU leaders urging them to advocate making ecocide an international crime at the International Criminal Court.
August 2020: Met with Angela Merkel in Berlin
On August 20, 2020, Greta Thunberg and fellow climate activists met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on the second anniversary of her first strike. Following the meeting, they announced plans for another global climate strike on September 25, 2020.
August 2020: Returned to school after gap year
On August 24, 2020, Greta Thunberg ended her "gap year" and returned to school. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted travel and meetings throughout 2020 and 2021.
September 2020: Planned another global climate strike
In September 2020, Greta Thunberg and fellow climate activists planned another global climate strike for September 25, 2020. The nature of the strike, whether virtual or in-person, was to be determined based on the ongoing pandemic situation.
September 2020: Premiere of 'I Am Greta' documentary
On 3 September 2020, the Hulu documentary 'I Am Greta' premiered at the Venice Film Festival, chronicling Greta Thunberg's climate activism from August 2018 through her voyage to the UN Climate Summit in September 2019.
November 2020: Criticism of Political Inaction and European Green Deal
In a November 2020 interview, Greta Thunberg criticized political inaction on climate change and the European Green Deal, stating that leaders set targets for decades ahead but flinch when immediate action is needed. She said the deal sends a strong signal that real action is being taken when it is not.
December 2020: Criticized New Zealand's climate change declaration
On December 14, 2020, Greta Thunberg criticized the New Zealand Labour Government's recent climate change emergency declaration as "virtue signalling," noting that it committed to reducing less than one percent of the country's carbon emissions by 2025.
2020: Call for emissions decline
Greta Thunberg has argued that greenhouse gas emissions curve needs to start declining steeply no later than 2020.
2020: Speaks Out Against Entrance Exams in India
In 2020, Greta Thunberg spoke out against the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) 2020 and Joint Entrance Examination 2020 entrance exams conducted in India in September, citing the global pandemic and floods as reasons for the unfairness to students.
2020: Supports Farmers' Protest
In 2020, Greta Thunberg tweeted her support for the ongoing Indian farmers' protest.
2020: Support from US Presidential Candidates
In 2020, following Greta Thunberg's speech at the action summit in New York, several Democratic candidates for the 2020 United States presidential election, including Kamala Harris, Beto O'Rourke, and Bernie Sanders, expressed their support.
February 2021: Tweets Support for Indian Farmers' Protest
On February 3, 2021, Greta Thunberg tweeted her support for the 2020-2021 Indian farmers' protest, which led to criticism from the Indian government and the arrest of activist Disha Ravi.
March 2021: Commitment to European Green Deal
In March 2021, after a conversation with Greta Thunberg, European Commissioner for Climate Action Frans Timmermans tweeted that the European Commission remained committed to ensuring the Common Agricultural Policy aligns with the objectives of the European Green Deal.
April 2021: Launched the annual Climate Live concert
In April 2021, Greta Thunberg and other climate activists launched the annual Climate Live concert to highlight climate change, marking their first concert.
May 2021: Addressed the COVID-19 crisis and food production system
In May 2021, Greta Thunberg addressed the COVID-19 crisis, urging a change in the food production system and the protection of animals and their habitats, also addressing health concerns regarding animal welfare and the environment.
July 2021: Received COVID vaccine
In July 2021, Greta Thunberg received her COVID vaccine, expressing gratitude for living in a place where she could get vaccinated and emphasizing the importance of equitable vaccine distribution globally.
September 2021: Featured on Vogue Scandinavia cover, criticized fashion industry
In September 2021, Greta Thunberg appeared on the cover of Vogue Scandinavia, shot by Iris and Mattias Alexandrov Klum. In an interview, she criticized the fashion industry's greenwashing efforts and its impact on the environment and workers.
September 2021: Criticized world leaders at Youth4Climate Summit
On September 28, 2021, Greta Thunberg criticized world leaders, including Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, and Narendra Modi, for their climate crisis promises at the Youth4Climate Summit in Milan. She also criticized climate conference organizers, accusing them of only pretending to listen to young people.
October 2021: COP26 Protests and Speech
In October 2021, Greta Thunberg arrived in Glasgow for the COP26 conference and participated in protests, including a Fridays for Future Scotland climate strike on November 5th. During a speech, she criticized COP26 as a failure, using the phrase "blah blah blah" to describe its ineffectiveness and accusing it of greenwashing.
November 2021: Filed a petition to the UN for a global climate emergency declaration
In November 2021, Greta Thunberg and other climate activists filed a petition to the United Nations, requesting a level 3 global climate emergency declaration to create a special team for coordinating international climate crisis response.
December 2021: Reiterated criticism of U.S. President Joe Biden
In December 2021, Greta Thunberg reiterated her criticism of U.S. President Joe Biden, questioning his leadership on climate issues due to the U.S.'s continued expansion of fossil fuel use under his administration.
2021: Discusses Autism and Activism
In 2021, Greta Thunberg noted that many members of the Fridays for Future movement are autistic, emphasizing the inclusive nature of the group. She also noted that people with autism may become climate activists because they cannot look away from the truth.
2021: EU Budget Allocation for Climate Action
In February 2019, Greta Thunberg shared a stage with the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, where he outlined that every fourth euro spent within the EU budget from 2021 to 2027 would go towards climate change mitigation.
February 2022: Protested against the invasion of Ukraine
On February 25, 2022, Greta Thunberg combined her usual Friday climate protests to include opposition to the invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces. She stood outside the Russian embassy in Stockholm holding a sign that read "Stand With Ukraine".
February 2022: Condemned Beowulf mining on Sámi land
On February 6, 2022, Greta Thunberg condemned the British firm Beowulf for mining iron on Sámi land, emphasizing the need to prioritize climate, environment, and indigenous rights over corporate profits.
July 2022: Criticized European Parliament's decision on fossil gas and nuclear energy
On July 6, 2022, Greta Thunberg criticized the European Parliament for voting to label fossil gas and nuclear energy as "green" energy, calling the decision "hypocrisy" and stating that it would delay a sustainable transition.
November 2022: Filed lawsuit against Swedish government for climate inaction
In November 2022, Greta Thunberg, along with over 600 young people, filed a lawsuit in a Stockholm district court against the Swedish government for climate inaction within Sweden.
January 2023: Detention at Lützerath Coal Mine Protest
On January 17, 2023, Greta Thunberg was detained by German police along with other activists during a protest against the expansion of a coal mine in Lützerath. She was released the same day after an identity check.
June 2023: Participation in Reclaim the Future Protest and Charge
On June 19, 2023, Greta Thunberg participated in a Reclaim the Future protest in Malmö, Sweden, and was charged with disobeying a police order.
June 2023: High School Graduation and Final School Strike
On June 9, 2023, Greta Thunberg graduated from high school, marking the day with her last school strike for climate protest before receiving her diploma. She vowed to continue her fight.
August 2023: Cancellation of Appearance at Edinburgh International Book Festival
On August 4, 2023, Greta Thunberg cancelled her scheduled appearance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on August 11 to promote "The Climate Book" due to the festival's sponsorship by Baillie Gifford, an investment firm with fossil fuel industry connections.
October 2023: Arrest at Energy Intelligence Forum Protest in London
On October 18, 2023, Greta Thunberg was arrested in London for protesting against the Energy Intelligence Forum. She was charged with failure to comply with a lawful order to disperse.
October 2023: Controversy Over Pro-Palestinian Social Media Post
On October 20, 2023, Greta Thunberg posted a photo supporting Palestinians amidst the Israel-Hamas war but was criticized for not condemning Hamas's attack on Israel. The Israeli Ministry of Education removed references to Thunberg in its curriculum.
November 2023: Plea of Not Guilty in London Court
On November 15, 2023, Greta Thunberg appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court and entered a plea of "not guilty" regarding her arrest at the Energy Intelligence Forum protest.
December 2023: Publication of Opinion Piece on Gaza Suffering
On December 5, 2023, Greta Thunberg and three researchers/activists published an opinion piece in The Guardian titled "We won't stop speaking out about Gaza's suffering", clarifying FFF Sweden's support for Palestinian civilians and addressing criticism of the organization.
2023: Continues Activism After High School Graduation
After graduating from high school in 2023, Greta Thunberg continued her activism, employing more assertive tactics, including acts of civil disobedience that resulted in arrests and convictions.
February 2024: Dismissal of Case Against Thunberg in London
On February 2, 2024, the case against Greta Thunberg, et al., was dismissed by the judge after the prosecution rested its case, agreeing that the crown had failed to present enough evidence.
April 2024: Charge for Civil Disobedience in Sweden
On April 23, 2024, Greta Thunberg was charged with civil disobedience for allegedly ignoring police orders to leave two climate demonstrations blocking Sweden's parliament building on March 12 and 14. She entered a plea of not guilty.
April 2024: Participation in Extinction Rebellion Protest in The Hague
On April 6, 2024, Greta Thunberg participated in an Extinction Rebellion-led protest in The Hague, Netherlands. She was forcibly removed from blocking a road and then joined another group blocking a different road, and was removed again. Reports vary on whether she was arrested or merely detained.
May 2024: Conviction for Civil Disobedience in Sweden
On May 8, 2024, a Swedish court convicted Greta Thunberg for civil disobedience and fined her 6,000 Swedish Kronor (US$550). She was also ordered to pay an additional 1,000 Swedish Kronor (US$92) in damages.
September 2024: Detention at Pro-Palestinian Protest in Copenhagen
In September 2024, Greta Thunberg was apprehended by Danish police during a pro-Palestinian protest in Copenhagen against the Israel–Hamas war. She was detained after blocking the entrance to a building at the University of Copenhagen.
November 2024: Reflection on Pro-Palestine Activism
In November 2024, Greta Thunberg reflected on her pro-Palestine activism, the details of which are not specified in the provided text.
2024: Detention at Pro-Palestinian Protest During Eurovision
In May 2024, Greta Thunberg was detained by Swedish police for participating in a pro-Palestinian protest outside Malmö Arena, which was hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. She later released a statement opposing Israel's participation in the contest.
2027: EU Budget Allocation for Climate Action
In February 2019, Greta Thunberg shared a stage with the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, where he outlined that every fourth euro spent within the EU budget from 2021 to 2027 would go towards climate change mitigation.
2030: Insufficient EU emissions cut target
Greta Thunberg has argued that the commitments made at the Paris Agreement are insufficient to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, and that the EU's current intention to cut emissions by 40% by 2030 is not sufficient to protect the future for children growing up today.
2050: Criticism of EU climate neutrality target
In November 2020, Greta Thunberg criticized the European Green Deal, which aims to make the EU climate neutral by 2050, saying that it sends a strong signal that real and sufficient action is being taken when in fact it's not.
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