Greta Thunberg urges society to ‘set things right’ in speech at Glastonbury festival
- Speaking at the UK music festival, the 19-year-old activist told the crowd she feels there is still hope for the world to choose a path which is ‘sustainable’
- Addressing the actions taken by global leaders, Thunberg said: ‘We are in the beginning of a climate and ecological emergency’
Greta Thunberg has called on society to take on its “historic responsibility to set things right” with the global climate crisis during her speech at Glastonbury.
Speaking from the Pyramid Stage, the 19-year-old environment activist told the crowd she feels there is still hope for the world to choose a path which is “sustainable” and “leads to a future for everyone”.
Thunberg opened her speech with a stark warning of the current climate situation, saying: “We are in the beginning of a climate and ecological emergency. But the biosphere is not just changing, it is destabilising, it is breaking down.
“The delicately balanced natural patterns and cycles that are a vital part of the systems that sustain life on earth as we know it are being disrupted, and the consequences could be catastrophic.
“And no, unfortunately, this is not the new normal. This crisis will continue to get worse until we manage to hold the constant destruction of our life-supporting systems, until we prioritise people and planet over profit and greed.”
The activist referenced the rise in CO2 emissions and how “fundamental changes to our societies” were required if the targets of the Paris Agreement were to be met.
Addressing the actions taken by global leaders, Thunberg said: “World leaders have been very busy. They have actively created loopholes and benefited the industries of destructive industries.”