Climate activist Thunberg condemns UN summit as ‘hypocritical’

“It’s a hypocrisy every year that the host countries are given an opportunity to whitewash themselves and we know that these negotiations are filled with lobbyists, paid by the very destructive industries which are benefiting from our extremely violent status quo,” Thunberg stated upon her arrival. She further asserted that current political and economic systems are fundamentally incompatible with human well-being.

While Turkey and Australia are promoting renewable energy sources like rooftop solar, both nations still heavily rely on fossil fuels, particularly coal, for electricity. Previous host countries, including Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, and Azerbaijan, are also major oil producers.

Thunberg warned that climate change poses a threat to “everything and everyone we love,” emphasizing that urgent action is needed to protect the global population and the environment. She criticized the prioritization of profits and geopolitical influence over the well-being of the majority of the world’s population.

This marks Thunberg’s first appearance at a UN climate summit since the 2021 gathering in Glasgow, Scotland, where she famously dismissed international commitments as “blah, blah, blah.”

The Swedish activist gained prominence in 2018, initiating a solo “School Strike for Climate” outside her national parliament at the age of 15. She later published *The Climate Book* in 2022, outlining strategies to address the environmental crisis. Thunberg has also advocated for various social causes, including the Free Palestine movement, and has been involved in demonstrations in London and Georgia.

Turkey’s primary goal at COP31 is to advance global electrification, transitioning sectors like transportation, housing, and industry from fossil fuels to electricity, aiming for a 35% share of electricity in overall energy consumption by 2035, up from the current 23%, with a focus on renewable sources.

“We have to take the victories we have, of course, because we are so desperate in this situation that we have to take all the positive signs we can get to save as much as we can still save,” Thunberg said, and is expected to remain at the summit for several days.

Her presence has energized younger delegates at the conference. Amber Turner, a fellow with the Alliance of Small Island States, commented, “In this time of heightened geopolitical tensions, I hope that Greta’s presence here reminds us of why we started this work in the first place: to push for meaningful change, hold decision-makers accountable, and work towards a better future for all of humanity.”

Demonstrations at the venue have called for increased climate financing and voiced opposition to the growing support for nuclear power. Kamori Osthananda, a youth negotiator representing Thailand, stated that Thunberg’s presence “is symbolic, and I hope that it will put pressure on the COP itself to deliver real action and implementation.” Qiyun Woo, an environmental campaigner from Singapore, described Thunberg’s presence as “powerful” and reflective of a generation inheriting the consequences of these negotiations.

The UN conference in Antalya is scheduled to continue until November 20. COP32 is planned for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in November 2027.