15-Year-Old Vegan Demands World Leaders Stop Ignoring Climate Change

Fifteen-year-old vegan and environmentalist Greta Thunberg spoke in front of world leaders at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poland. The Swedish activist, who was speaking on behalf of environmental organization Climate Justice Now, told leaders that they are stealing their children’s future because they have failed to lessen greenhouse gas emissions and stop global warming. “It’s us who are going to live in this world,” Thunberg said. “If I live to be 100, I will be alive in 2103 and that is a long time in the future. We will have to live with the mess that older generations have made. We will have to clean it up for them. That is not fair.” Thunberg, who gained notoriety for starting a one-child strike outside of the Swedish Parliament, convinced her family to go vegan and give up air travel after learning about the damaging environmental effects of consuming animal products and burning fuel. The young activist plans to continue her strike until the government takes action on climate change. “We are here to let you know that change is coming, whether you like it or not,” Thunberg said. “The real power belongs to the people.”