35 Greta Thunberg Quotes for Climate Change Awareness

Greta Thunberg is among the few people who have changed the climate change conversation. From school strikes to UN speeches, this young activist turned global attention to our warming planet.

Many of us feel our climate efforts make little difference.

When Greta first sat outside parliament with a handmade sign, few paid attention. Now her straightforward words move millions to act. She states hard truths others shy away from.

These quotes show why Greta’s message hits home.

From her warning that “our house is on fire” to her calls for hope through action, her words cut through noise and touch hearts.

These quotes will remind both newcomers and longtime supporters why this fight matters, giving you the push to keep going when the path seems too hard.

Who Is Greta Thunberg?

Greta Thunberg is a Swedish environmental activist born in 2003.

She gained worldwide attention in 2018 when, at 15, she began skipping school on Fridays to protest outside the Swedish parliament, demanding stronger action on climate change.

Her solo “School Strike for Climate” grew into the global Fridays for Future movement, with millions of young people joining similar protests.

Thunberg has spoken at major global forums including the United Nations and World Economic Forum, confronting world leaders with direct calls for action.

She’s known for her plain-speaking style and refusal to soften her message about climate urgency.

She’s received numerous honors including Time’s Person of the Year (2019) and Nobel Peace Prize nominations. Thunberg has Asperger’s syndrome, which she describes as helping her see climate issues in “black and white.”

Greta Thunberg’s Powerful Quotes

As she continues to inspire millions, here are some of her most impactful quotes:

1. “I want you to act as if the house is on fire, because it is.”
   Greta said this during her speech at the World Economic Forum in 2019, urging world leaders to take immediate action on the climate crisis, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

2. “You are never too small to make a difference.”
   Greta said this in her early speeches to inspire people of all ages to take part in climate action, showing that even individuals can have a significant impact.

3. “The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual one. It is a struggle for our common survival.”
   Greta made this statement during her speech at the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019, emphasizing that the climate crisis transcends politics and is a matter of survival for everyone.

4. “I don’t want your hope. I don’t want you to be hopeful. I want you to panic.”
   This quote was part of her speech at the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019. Greta expressed that people need to feel the urgency of the crisis and act immediately, rather than wait for hope.

5. “We can’t save the world by playing by the rules, because the rules have to be changed.”
   Greta said this during her speeches to the European Parliament in 2019, criticizing the current systems and policies that are failing to tackle climate change and calling for systemic change.

6. “This is all wrong. I shouldn’t be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean.”
   She said this during her speech at the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019, expressing her frustration that children like her have to fight for their future instead of focusing on their education.

7. “You say you love your children above all else, and yet you are stealing their future in front of their very eyes.”
   Greta made this comment during her 2019 UN speech, calling out world leaders who fail to take meaningful action on climate change, despite claiming to care about the well-being of future generations.

8. “We are facing an existential crisis. We have to act now.”
   Greta delivered this message during her speech at the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019, stressing the immediate need for action to prevent the worst consequences of climate change.

9. “The world is waking up. And change is coming, whether you like it or not.”
   She said this during a speech in 2019, acknowledging that there is growing global awareness about climate change, and change is inevitable as a result of this awakening.

10. “I have learned you are never too young to make a difference.”
    This quote comes from Greta’s earlier speeches, as she encourages young people to join the fight for climate action, showing that age is not a barrier to creating change.

11. “It’s not about me. It’s about the planet.”
    Greta stated this when she was asked about her growing fame in the media. She emphasized that her activism is focused on the climate crisis, not on personal recognition.

12. “We need to make clear that we are not a generation of people who want to destroy the planet. We want to protect it.”
    She said this in an interview in 2019, rejecting the notion that young people are apathetic about the environment and asserting that they want to preserve the planet.

13. “I want to show the world that change is possible and that everyone can make a difference.”
    Greta made this statement in various speeches, inspiring individuals to believe in their ability to contribute to the fight against climate change, no matter how small their actions may seem.

14. “We need to act now. You don’t have to be an expert to make a difference.”
    This quote reflects Greta’s belief that action is more important than expertise. She made this point in speeches to highlight that anyone can take action to help the climate, regardless of their background.

15. “There is no Planet B.”
    Greta made this statement during her speeches, urging people to understand that Earth is our only home and we must take care of it to ensure our survival.

16. “We are not mature enough to tell it like it is.”
    She made this statement during a speech in 2019, criticizing political leaders who avoid speaking the truth about the climate crisis and take insufficient actions to address it.

17. “You are failing us, but the young people are starting to understand your betrayal.”
    Greta said this at the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019, calling out politicians for failing to address climate change while acknowledging that young people are increasingly aware of this failure.

18. “If you are not angry, then you are not paying attention.”
    This quote was made by Greta during various speeches, urging people to feel anger and outrage at the lack of action on climate change and use that emotion to drive change.

19. “This is our future. This is your future. The people who are responsible for this crisis are not the ones who are suffering from it.”
    Greta expressed this during a speech to the UN in 2019, pointing out the injustice of the climate crisis, where those who are most responsible for it are not the ones facing its consequences.

20. “I don’t want to be a symbol of anything. I just want people to listen to the science.”
    Greta made this statement when asked about her status as a climate icon. She emphasized that her message is about science and the need to act on climate facts, not about personal fame.

21. “The climate crisis has already been solved. We know how to fix it. We just need to wake up and change.”
    She said this in 2019, stressing that the solutions to climate change already exist and that the real challenge is getting people to take action and implement those solutions.

22. “We are in the beginning of a mass extinction. And all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth.”
    She said this in 2019, criticizing leaders who prioritize economic growth over the environmental and ecological crises that threaten life on Earth.

23. “I’ve learned that people are not afraid to listen to the truth, even though they may be in denial about it.”
    Greta made this observation in an interview, noting that although many people are in denial about the climate crisis, once they hear the truth, they are more open to addressing the issue.

24. “There is a crisis in our world. A climate crisis. And we are not taking it seriously enough.”
    This quote is from Greta’s speech at the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019, where she called on world leaders to recognize the seriousness of the climate crisis and act decisively.

25. “Why should we study for a future that is being taken away from us?”
    Greta made this statement during a speech at the UN in 2019, expressing the frustration of young people who feel their future is being threatened by inaction on climate change.

26. “I want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”
    Greta said this in various interviews and speeches, highlighting her commitment to working towards environmental solutions and encouraging others to do the same.

27. “We need to take responsibility and we need to act.”
    She said this in a speech to the UN in 2019, calling for collective accountability and immediate action to address the climate crisis.

28. “We are the ones making the mess, and we are the ones who have to clean it up.”
    Greta made this statement in 2019, reminding humanity that the climate crisis was caused by human activities, and it is up to humans to fix it.

29. “People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction.”
    She said this during her speech at the UN in 2019, highlighting the catastrophic impacts of climate change on people, ecosystems, and biodiversity.

30. “I will do what I can, and I will never give up.”
    Greta made this statement in 2019, expressing her determination to continue fighting for climate action, no matter the challenges she faces.

31. “The longer we wait, the harder it will be to fix things.”
    She said this during a speech in 2019, warning that delayed action on climate change will only make it more difficult to address the problem effectively in the future.

32. “What we are doing is not enough. We have to do more.”
    Greta made this statement at the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019, acknowledging that while some progress has been made, it is not sufficient to tackle the climate crisis.

33. “We need a new story, a new narrative. We need to change the way we think.”
    She said this in an interview, calling for a shift in societal values and perspectives in order to prioritize sustainability and environmental protection.

34. “Our house is on fire. I am here to tell you that our house is on fire.”
    Greta made this statement during her speech at the World Economic Forum in 2019, using the metaphor of a burning house to illustrate the urgency of the climate crisis.

35. “You don’t have to be an expert to understand the seriousness of the climate crisis.”
    Greta made this point in various speeches, emphasizing that understanding the severity of climate change does not require technical expertise, just a willingness to accept the facts.

Final Thoughts: Climate Change Is Real

Climate change might sound complicated, but it’s something we can all understand and help solve. Greta Thunberg has shown us that even kids can create meaningful change in protecting our planet.

Think of Earth as our only home. Just like you take care of your bedroom or your house, we need to care for our entire planet.

Climate change is happening right now, and it’s serious. But here’s the important part – we’re not powerless!

Remember, you’re never too young to create change. Greta was just 15 when she began her climate protests, and she showed the world that young people have strong voices.

The planet needs everyone – kids, teenagers, adults – to work together.

The most powerful thing we can do is understand that our actions matter. We can protect our world, one small step at a time. Nature needs our help, and together, we can make a real impact.