Pledges so far to reduce greenhouse gas emissions put the world on track for a dire 3°C or more of warming this century, with countries planning to produce double the amount of fossil fuels needed to hit the 1.5°C target in the next decade alone, the United Nations and research groups said last week.

“Hypothetical targets are being set and big speeches are being given, yet when it comes to the immediate action we need, we are still in state of complete denial,” Thunberg said.

“We are still speeding in the wrong direction.”

Now 17, Thunberg rose to fame in 2018 when her school strike for climate change campaign became a viral sensation online, turning her lone protest into a global movement. Since then she has become a thorn in the side of the world’s political elite.

She ended Friday’s video on an optimistic note, saying the solution was in making people – rather than simply policymakers – aware of the extent of the climate crisis.

“Let’s make this our main priority. Let’s unite and spread awareness … We are the hope. We the people.”

Reuters