Greta Thunberg sends pointed warning to EU after 'five years of inaction and loopholes'
GRETA Thunberg has sent a pointed warning to the EU about its "years of inaction" over reducing carbon emissions and tackling climate change.
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The 17-year-old Swedish activist took to Twitter this morning to urge world leaders into action, after accusing them of failing to do enough to combat global warming. Ms Thunberg’s desperate plea came the exact minute European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the EU’s new climate proposals.
Ms Thunberg took to Twitter to remind students of today’s online school strike in a bid to raise awareness and spark a change in climate change policies.
Sharing a picture of herself with a banner reading ‘Skolstrejk för Klimatet’, school strike for climate in English, she wrote: “School strike week 121.
“Tomorrow marks 5 yrs since the Paris Agreement. 5 yrs of inaction and creating loopholes.
“We can’t go on like this.
“Time to move from distant 'net zero' targets to real zero with binding, annual CO2 budgets starting now. #FightFor1Point5 #fridaysforfuture.”
Ms Thunberg pioneered the idea of school strikes for climate change in 2018, which started with her protesting outside the Swedish parliament.
Her aim is to force a debate on the climate change agenda and ensure world leaders take immediate action against climate change.
The activist's Tweet made a fresh dig at the United Nation’s Paris Agreement, a legally binding treaty on climate change.
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The main goal of the accord is to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.
To achieve this countries aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to achieve a climate-neutral world by mid-century.
But five years on from the treaty, Ms Thunberg urges countries to do more.
Her fresh warning coincided with celebratory messages from the EU this morning, as they marked the bloc’s new climate target.
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Ms von der Leyen wrote on Twitter: “Great way to celebrate the first anniversary of our #EUGreenDeal!
“#EUCO has endorsed our ambitious proposal for a new EU climate target.
“Europe will reduce emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030.
“It puts us on a clear path towards climate neutrality in 2050.”
European Council President Charles Michel also declared: "Europe is the leader in the fight against climate change."
European leaders have agreed to cut their net greenhouse gas emissions at least 55 percent by 2030, from 1990 levels, upgrading an existing target to cut by 40 percent this decade.
The new target aims to put the EU on track to reach net zero emissions by 2050, a deadline scientists say the world must meet to avert the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.
The EU will present its target at a United Nations virtual summit of world leaders on Saturday.
The bloc hopes to assert its climate leadership on the global stage.