The Climate Book

Greta Thunberg was born in 2003 in Sweden. Her climate activism journey began in 2011, when she became aware of the impending climate crisis, and three years later, she was diagnosed with autism spectrum syndrome. In 2018, Thunberg shifted her activism from personal lifestyle changes—including encouraging her family to go vegan and no longer traveling by plane—to political activism. She attends protests, gives speeches, and has organized movements, including school strikes and “Fridays for Future.” In 2019, Thunberg was invited to speak at the United Nations Climate Action Summit and at a congressional hearing. Along with arranging The Climate Book, Thunberg has also published a collection of her speeches, entitled No One is Too Small to Make a Difference, in 2019 (“Greta Thunberg.” Iowa State University).

Thunberg authored 17 of the essays in The Climate Book. Given her widespread, well-known, and thoroughly researched political activism, Thunberg is considered by many to be a credible source of climate-related information despite her young age. Thunberg uses a combination of scientific and statistical information and satirical comments to enhance the persuasiveness of her arguments. Her approach reflects her background as an activist. She identifies the wealthy elite and overconsumption as the primary drivers of climate change, and she stresses that everyone can make a difference by reducing their personal carbon footprints.