Lasting Legacy of Greta Thunberg: A Look at the Influence on History

How the contributions of Greta Thunberg continue to shape the world today.

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.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

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 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.

May 2019: Addressing Criticism

In May 2019, Greta Thunberg addressed online criticism, stating that personal attacks indicate the lack of a valid argument. Joe Biden responded to Trump's tweet mocking Thunberg after she was named the Time's Person of the Year 2019 by tweeting at Trump: "What kind of president bullies a teenager? @realDonaldTrump, you could learn a few things from Greta on what it means to be a leader."

May 2019: Time magazine cover

In May 2019, Thunberg was featured on the cover of Time magazine, where she was described as a role model and one of the "Next Generation Leaders".

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: Mural of Thunberg in Bristol

In May 2019, a 15-metre-high mural of Thunberg by artist Jody Thomas was created in Bristol, portraying the bottom half of her face as if under rising sea water.

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.

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: Vogue cover featuring Thunberg

In September 2019, Greta Thunberg and fifteen others were featured on the cover of Vogue magazine created by guest editor Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

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.

December 2019: Father Discusses Family's Lifestyle Changes

In December 2019, Greta Thunberg's father discussed how her mother gave up international ventures in her opera career to save her child, as she saw how much it meant to her and the energy she got from it.

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.

2019: Named Time Person of the Year

In 2019, Greta Thunberg was named the youngest Time Person of the Year, included in the Forbes list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women, and nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, marking significant recognition of her influence.

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.

March 2021: Sculpture installed at the University of Winchester

In March 2021, a life-sized sculpture of Greta Thunberg was installed on the campus of the University of Winchester.

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.

September 2021: Thunberg Addresses Ending Mother's Career

In September 2021, Greta Thunberg addressed the question of whether she felt guilty about ending her mother's international career, clarifying that it was her mother's choice based on the information she provided.

2021: Study on Familiarity with Greta Thunberg

According to a 2021 study, individuals familiar with Greta Thunberg demonstrate a higher inclination towards collective action to mitigate global warming, facilitated by stronger collective efficacy beliefs, even after accounting for overall support for climate activism.

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.