Greta Thunberg's FINAL 'School Strike for Climate': Swedish activist takes part in the protests she started one last time… because she has now graduated
- Greta Thunberg staged first school walkout in 2018 and has now graduated
- While it is 'technically' her last school protest she said 'the fight has only begun'
- MailOnline looks at her rise to becoming one of world's most famous activists
After she began striking in 2018 to raise awareness of rising sea levels and temperatures, the young campaigner's impact began to be felt worldwide in what became known as 'the Greta Effect'.
Millions of young people have since taken to the streets to protest for the future of the planet, and Greta went on to speak at the UN and raise her cause with governments around the world.
Barely out of her teens, she is now one of the most recognisable figures in the world, and arguably the face of the fight against climate change.
Here, MailOnline charts Greta's rise from a quiet schoolgirl to one of the most outspoken and impactful activists of her generation.
Great Thunberg has staged her last ever school climate strike as she graduates at the age of 20
Greta and other climate activists protesting outside the Swedish Parliament in Stockholm
Started at home
Greta first found out about climate change in 2011 aged eight, and soon became depressed about the prospect of the planet dying.
She was later diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, OCD, and selective mutism - which she later pointed out, in reference to her climate change battle, means she 'only speaks when necessary'.
In her first win for the climate, Greta convinced her parents that they needed to change their lifestyles.
Initially unsure about her activism, and worried about her missing school, they soon came round to her Fridays for Future initiative.
Fridays for Future
Greta began missing school to strike in 2018. Her protests became part of the Fridays for Future movement
Greta staged her first school walkout protest on 20 August 2018.
The schoolgirl, who had just started ninth grade, decided not to attend school until Sweden's 2018 General Election on September 9.
Her decision to strike was sparked by Sweden's hottest summer in over 260 years and raging wildfires in the country.
She staged her protest outside the Riksdag, and demanded that the Swedish government reduce carbon emissions in accordance with the Paris Climate Agreement.
She protested every day for three weeks during school hours under the banner Skolstrejk för klimatet (School strike for climate).
The movement has seen the mass mobilisation of young people against climate change, with children as young as five putting pressure on governments around the world.
Greta leading a Fridays For Future rally demanding action against climate change in Turin in 2019
UN Climate Conference 2018
Greta's passionate speech criticising adults for not doing enough to save the planet for their children went viral in 2018, sparking widespread climate change activism.
The precocious 15-year-old impressed the world with her speech, telling the leaders present that they were 'not mature enough to tell it like it is'.
'What I hope we achieve at this conference is that we realise that we are facing an existential threat.
'This is the biggest crisis humanity has ever faced. First we have to realise this and then as fast as possible do something to stop the emissions and try to save what we can save.'
UK Parliament speech
Greta addressed politicians, media and guests with the Houses of Parliament on April 23, 2019
Greta held a talk for a cross-party group of MPs in 2019, with the notable absence of the then-Prime Minister Theresa May.
'We just want people to listen to the science,' the 16-year-old told those assembled for the roundtable discussion on climate change.
'The UK's active current support of new exploitations of fossil fuels, like for example the UK shale gas fracking industry, expansion of North Sea oil, the expansion of airports as well as the planning permission for a brand new coal mine is beyond absurd.'
'Did you hear me? Is my English OK? Because I'm beginning to wonder,' Thunberg said.
Her visit coincided with Extinction Rebellion's mass action across London, which saw days of disruption to roads and transport.
Donald Trump 'death stare'
Greta Thunberg's 'death stare' at Donald Trump (above) as he upstaged her at the UN Climate Summit has become a viral meme on social media
Greta became an internet sensation yet again when she attended the United Nations Climate Summit in New York aged 16.
She told delegates 'you have stolen my dreams and my childhood' and that world leaders were 'failing' humanity.
Among those who didn't attend was the then-US President Donald Trump
As the pair briefly crossed paths at the UN headquarters, she was spotted giving him a steely look, labelled a 'death stare' by many online.
The enraged expression on her face quickly became an internet sensation, and a social media storm between the two ensued.
After her emotionally-charged speech at the UN, the U.S. President wrote that in a mocking tweet that Greta 'seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future'.
But appearing on a Swedish talk show from New York today, the teenage climate activist said Trump's ridicule 'doesn't make a difference'.
In December 2019, President Trump mocked her again after she was named Person of the Year for 2019 by Time
He tweeted: 'So ridiculous. Greta must work on her Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Greta, Chill!'
Greta responded by changing her Twitter biography to: 'A teenager working on her anger management problem. Currently chilling and watching a good old fashioned movie with a friend.'
She later reprised the back and forth during the 2020 presidential election, commenting on Trump tweeting: 'Stop the count!' with the text: 'So ridiculous. Donald must work on his Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Donald, Chill!'
Sailing to the UN
Greta arriving in the US after a 15-day journey crossing the Atlantic in the Malizia II, a zero-carbon yacht
The eco-warrior used her 2019 UN speech to call out Trump on his climate record, but it was her mode of transport to the New York conference which got many talking.
The 16-year-old sailed into Manhattan on a zero-carbon emissions yacht to avoid using a plane's gas emissions.
She was greeted by hundreds of activists when she stepped off the yacht near the World Trade Center.
She has spearheaded an anti-flying movement during her years campaigning, promoting travel by boat and train instead of high-carbon flying.
Carried off by police
Police officers carry Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg away from the edge of the Garzweiler II opencast lignite mine in January
The Swedish climate activist was carried off by police during a protest at a mine in Lutzerath in January.
Greta was again carried away by police officers during a protest in Oslo against a wind farm built on indigenous land in Norway.
The Swedish climate activist had joined indigenous Sami protesters in blocking access to the Norwegian foreign ministry to protest against wind turbines that remained in place on reindeer herding land, despite a court ruling.
What next?
Greta Thunberg stands with a sign that reads School Strike for climate on what was 'technically' the last day of her school strike for action, ahead of her graduation
While her school striking days may be over, Greta has pledged to continue her weekly walkouts.
'We who can speak up have a duty to do so. In order to change everything, we need everyone,' she wrote on Twitter.
'I'll continue to protest on Fridays, even though it's not technically "school striking".
'We simply have no other option than to do everything we possibly can. The fight has only just begun.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12177505/Greta-Thunbergs-FINAL-School-Strike-Climate-graduates.html
Thunberg (pictured in 2018) tweeted an article by gritpost.com detailing Harvard University professor James Anderson's warning that humanity would cease to exist if use of fossil fuels was not stopped by June 21, 2023
Greta Thunberg, 19, accused Andrew Tate of having 'small d**k energy' which sent her fans on social media into a frenzy
A five-year-old backed by Greta Thunberg's Fridays For Future eco group (pictured during a protest in Berlin) has helped to take the Austrian government to court
The case is being backed by the youth climate group Fridays For Future (FFF) - supported by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg (pictured in a protest with the group)
the group was pictured protesting in Berlin
Greta Thunberg was seen smiling as she was carried away by riot police officers while protesting at a coal mine in Germany
Climate activist Greta Thunberg gestures as she sits in a bus on the day of a protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine
Thunberg is pictured inside a group of protesters that was surrounded by several police officers
Activists sit on rails to block the way of coal trains heading to the power plant in Lutzerath
Greta Thunberg (pictured at the 2019 United Nations Climate Summit) told Australia to 'wake up' to the climate crisis
Thunberg (above) appeared on the Aussie TV ABC to promote her book, The Climate Book
Anthony Albanese's Labor government has resolved to cut emissions 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030
Thunberg (above) made headlines around the world in 2019 when she told off global leaders for failing to make serious climate policies
Australia is the world's second largest coal exporter, something Thunberg suggested the country should reconsider if it is serious about climate action (pictured, coal mine workers)
Greta Thunberg is seen smiling as she is surrounded by two police officers in Lutzerath in Germany
The climate activist laughed as the riot police forcibly removed her from a protest against the expansion of a coal mine
Greta Thunberg was carried away by police officers yet again during a protest in Oslo against a wind farm in Norway
The Swedish climate activist (seen being carried by two officers) had joined indigenous Sami protesters in blocking access to the Norwegian foreign ministry
Pictured: Greta Thunberg is seen third-left, sitting outside Norway's Energy Ministry to protest against wind turbines built on land traditionally used to herd reindeer
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg (right) campaigning against a new wind farm in Norway, labelling it 'green colonialism'
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg (centre) with activists who are are protesting against wind turbines
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg (pictured in Davos) slammed business and political leaders attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, saying it was 'absurd' to listen to them while they fuelled 'the destruction of the planet'
A theory has been circulating online that Thunberg's protest arrest was in fact 'all set up for the cameras'
The 20-year-old was among dozens of climate activists who were detained by police officers during protests at a mine in the coal village of Lutzerath
Jamie Lee Curtis, 64, showed her support for Greta Thunberg, 20, with an Instagram post
Thunberg meeting Charles in Davos
Thunberg says that she wants to step out of the limelight
Greta Thunberg said it is time for her to 'give up the megaphone'
Greta endorsed protesters who have trashed museums and glued themselves to walls, saying that 'civil disobedience... is something that we have to start embracing'
Ms Thunberg publicised her book
Thunberg said her least favourite subject in school was economics
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Howden Junior School, in East Yorkshire, ditched Sir Francis Drake, Admiral Nelson and Sir Walter Raleigh for activist Greta Thunberg
A new species of rainfrog, discovered in the Panama jungle, has been named after teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg
The Greta Thunberg Rainfrog, Pristimantis gretathunbergae
Environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg will appear in a satirical comedy as a 'female voice of reason' to tell the rest of us that 'we are all bonkers'
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