16-year-old challenges World leaders on climate change

16-year-old challenges World leaders on climate change

author-image
Pratidin Bureau
New Update
16-year-old challenges World leaders on climate change

A 16year old school girl from Sweden stumped the entireWorld leader including Prime Minister Narendra Modi since she literally stolethe thunder from the United Nations Climate Action Summit by accusing them ofnot doing enough.

Greta Thunberg, who has become a reluctant icon of themovement against climate change, has excoriated world leaders for their"betrayal" of young people through their inertia over the climate crisis at aUnited Nations summit that failed to deliver ambitious new commitments toaddress dangerous global heating.

"If world leaders choose to fail us, my generation will never forgive them" she said in a tearful speech.

Prime Minister Modi pledges India's support to Climate change

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the world was not doing enough to tackle the climate crisis, calling for "global behavioural change" at the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York. As part of its commitment to the cause, India will increase its renewable energy target to 450 gigawatts, he announced.

"We must accept that if we have to overcome suchserious challenges, then what we are doing today is not enough. What we need isglobal behavioural change. India is here today not just to talk about thisserious issue but to present a roadmap," he said.

Echoing similar tone, child sensation Greta accused theWorld leaders of Betrayal. In a stinging speech on Monday, the teenage Swedishclimate activist told governments that "you are still not mature enough to tellit like it is. You are failing us. But the young people are starting tounderstand your betrayal."

Meanwhile PM Modi said India would increase the share ofnon-fossil fuel energy. "We are going to increase our renewable energycapacity to 175 GW by 2022, and are committed to further increasing it to 450GW," he said. India had set the 175 GW target as part of its commitment tothe 2015 Paris Climate agreement.

"The time for talks is over. The world needs to actnow," PM Modi said in the presence of US President Donald Trump, who madean unscheduled appearance at the UN summit.

But Thunberg predicted the summit would not deliver any newplans in line with the radical cuts in greenhouse gas emissions that scientistssay are needed to avoid catastrophic climate breakdown.

 "You have stolen mydreams and my childhood with your empty words," a visibly emotional Thunbergsaid.

Narendra Modi Greta Thunberg Climate Change Summit