19 votes

Greta Thunberg: ‘Forget about net zero, we need real zero’

10 comments

  1. [10]
    asep
    Link
    Can someone honestly explain why Greta Thunberg is famous and what she's actually doing that's useful. The feeling that I get in general and from this video that reinforces it is that all she...

    Can someone honestly explain why Greta Thunberg is famous and what she's actually doing that's useful. The feeling that I get in general and from this video that reinforces it is that all she really does is say super popular and sweeping statements. For example in this video she says we need "real zero" emissions, that's great I want that too and I can also say that but that's not making me famous like her. She doesn't seem to provide any real solutions and instead seems focused on going from place to place on her parents' money and again just say these broad statements like "we need to get to zero emissions". I don't want to sound aggressive or anything but this is just coming from a genuine place of confusion from me.

    7 votes
    1. [6]
      ali
      Link Parent
      She started the school strikes that currently move hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. That’s her first claim to fame. Also, you say she doesn’t offer any solutions. She is a 17 year old...

      She started the school strikes that currently move hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. That’s her first claim to fame.
      Also, you say she doesn’t offer any solutions. She is a 17 year old girl, of course she is not a climate scientist doing her own research. However she does offer solutions: listen to the scientists.

      22 votes
      1. [3]
        asep
        Link Parent
        Ok right I think this gets to my main problem with her as a public figure then. Maybe I myself am too naive but in my opinion I would prefer to have activists in STEM communities who can help...

        Ok right I think this gets to my main problem with her as a public figure then. Maybe I myself am too naive but in my opinion I would prefer to have activists in STEM communities who can help enact large scale changes rather than have activists who focus on the more political aspects.

        1 vote
        1. ali
          Link Parent
          The problem is that scientists have been warning about climate change for decades, but no one listens. Greta started a movement which caused a lot of people (myself included) to show up monthly to...

          The problem is that scientists have been warning about climate change for decades, but no one listens. Greta started a movement which caused a lot of people (myself included) to show up monthly to protests in order to get politicians to enact green policies. Climate change is not a question of left or right, it’s whether we want to be able to continue inhabiting this world

          13 votes
        2. Odysseus
          Link Parent
          Yeah, so would I. It's incredibly disheartening that the face of climate change activism is a kid without expertise who's main message is a simple "climate change bad, we need to do more". I feel...

          Yeah, so would I. It's incredibly disheartening that the face of climate change activism is a kid without expertise who's main message is a simple "climate change bad, we need to do more". I feel like despite her visibility, that kind of neuters her message a bit.

          With that said, I'm incredibly grateful that she's been able to garner as much attention as she has and with it, she's forcing this discussion to the forefront (though it's debatable if it's really making any real difference. )

          3 votes
      2. [2]
        JoylessAubergine
        Link Parent
        No she didn't. American teens started the school strikes. First about school shootings and then a group marched on DC specifically about climate change.

        She started the school strikes that currently move hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.

        No she didn't. American teens started the school strikes. First about school shootings and then a group marched on DC specifically about climate change.

        1. mycketforvirrad
          Link Parent
          We are discussing climate protests and she is acknowledged as the origin for school strikes in this regard.

          We are discussing climate protests and she is acknowledged as the origin for school strikes in this regard.

          4 votes
    2. [2]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. asep
        Link Parent
        I think that's a fair point about being in a bubble, I think a problem for me maybe is that I'm also stuck in an echo chamber a bit but it's just that everywhere I go whether it's in real life or...

        I think that's a fair point about being in a bubble, I think a problem for me maybe is that I'm also stuck in an echo chamber a bit but it's just that everywhere I go whether it's in real life or on social media all I'm hearing is about climate change from people who want to "raise awareness" and honestly it's getting a bit frustrating.

        1 vote
    3. Qis
      Link Parent
      You are confused about the fame? Fame is easy! Her persona as an advocate and a young woman cuts a compelling and presentable figure. Even brief flashes of charisma have the potential to catch...

      You are confused about the fame? Fame is easy! Her persona as an advocate and a young woman cuts a compelling and presentable figure. Even brief flashes of charisma have the potential to catch fire in the public imagination. You are right that her advocacy is largely platitudinous so far, and I wouldn't like to overestimate the potential for this speaking tour to pivot to the kinds of lobbying I still expect will be necessary -- but I don't think there's much to be confused about.

      6 votes
    4. vaddi
      Link Parent
      Apparently she moves people. Of course any of us could do what she does, theoretically. But are we doing it? Most famous people that have impact on common people are not the very best at what they...

      Apparently she moves people. Of course any of us could do what she does, theoretically. But are we doing it?
      Most famous people that have impact on common people are not the very best at what they do, e.g. singers, performers. But people still follow and listen to them for some reason. Sometimes is just a combination of luck, being there at the right time and being pretty that push this individuals to stardom, but what really matters is what do they choose to do with it once they have it . She chose to yell about climate.
      The world is weird.

      3 votes