Greta Thunberg's passion makes star quality

Greta Thunberg is only 17 years old but has become one of the most influential individuals on the planet due to her dedication as a climate activist. According to Thunberg, when she first learned about climate change at the age of 8, she became so depressed that she stopped talking and eating^[1]. In August 2018, she began her school climate strikes, demanding that the Swedish government reduce their carbon emissions; on the first day she protested alone, claiming that while she did try to persuade other young people to join her, nobody was interested^[2]. After Thunberg’s lone protests gained traction on social media, thousands of students across at least 270 cities were inspired to participate in the movement^[3]. Thunberg then began to be invited to give speeches at parliaments and forums, as well as the 2018 UN Climate Change Conference^[4]. Thunberg has been diagnosed with several mental health issues; “I was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, OCD, and selective mutism, [which] means I only speak when I think it’s necessary,” she said during a TEDx Talk in 2018. “Now is one of those moments.”^[5] Despite the potential negative impact on her mental health, Thunberg has continued to travel to give speeches and inspire a generation full of youth activists across the globe. She has continued to be vocal about the climate change crisis - even though it has resulted in negative criticism from public figures - and has successfully pressured various politicians into acknowledging the severity of climate change^[6]. She has also been named as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People^[7]. Thunberg's extreme passion for climate change has contributed to her massive social media following and gaining momentum on changing our impact on the Earth.