It’s #WomanCrushWednesday and that means we are back with another feature for Women’s History Month. This week, we would like to highlight a climate and environmental activist with Aspergers, Greta Thunberg. At the age of just 19, Greta is inspiring a new generation of environmental activists while challenging world leaders to take immediate climate action.
Greta’s personal climate action began when she persuaded her parents to adopt lifestyle choices that reduced their own carbon footprint. This passion for environmental activism soon grew across her local community and eventually worldwide. Greta gained her popularity around the world when she inspired school students to participate in a school climate strike series. The movement, under the name Fridays for Future, gave children around the world a platform to stand up for their future and push their communities to take action on our current climate crisis.
Today, Greta’s impactful movement across the globe can be described as “The Greta Effect”, as she continues to inspire others every day to reduce their carbon footprint.
“We’re asking grownups to follow our lead: we can’t wait any longer,” Greta wrote in an op-ed. “This movement had to happen. And now, you adults have a choice.”
Greta’s sudden rise to worldwide fame made her both a leader in climate action and a target for denying critics. She has received numerous honors and awards, including an honorary Fellowship of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, inclusion in Time‘s 100 most influential people, being the youngest Time Person of the Year, inclusion in the Forbes list of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women (2019), and nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, 2020, and 2021. I personally hope 2022 is her Nobel Peace Prize year.
At such a young age, Greta has opened a conversation about climate change that was often overlooked and has applied pressure to some of the world’s most powerful leaders. Greta is paving the way for environmental activists of all ages. She is teaching young adults like herself to use their voice and stand up for their future.
Greta is just one of many amazing women the team at Philly PR Girl is featuring. Stay tuned for the rest of our Woman Crush Wednesday picks as we continue to dive into Women’s History Month! Make sure you keep up with us on social media all month long!
