Schoolgirl activist Greta Thunberg has condemned the UK’s stance on climate change as she told MPs that “nothing is being done” and that her future has been stolen.
Speaking alongside a panel of MPs in Parliament on Tuesday, the 16-year-old activist told a packed room that her future and those of her fellow children had been “sold”.
“We probably don’t even have a future anymore,” she said.
“That future has been sold so that a small number of people can make unimaginable amounts of money.”
Miss Thunberg stood beside Environment Secretary Michael Gove, Green MP Caroline Lucas, Labour's Ed Miliband and Lib Dem's Layla Moran and said she knew politicians did not want to listen.
She added: “The basic problem is the same everywhere and is that nothing is being done. You don’t listen to the science because you are only interested in the answers that will allow you to carry on as if nothing has happened.”
MPs spoke out in support of Miss Thunberg after her visit to the Palace of Westminster, with Mr Gove assuring her that she had been heard before admitting: “We have not done nearly enough.”
He said: "Suddenly in the past few years it has become inescapable that we have to act. The time to act is now, the challenge could not be clearer - Greta you have been heard."
Despite becoming the subject of some criticism since she addressed the Extinction Rebellion rally in London over the weekend, other MPs took to social media to praise the teenager.
Labour's Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi wrote: “Incredible listening to Greta Thunberg’s powerful words in Parliament this afternoon.
“It is vital that we collectively change our actions and do more to tackle climate change.”
Before her speech, Miss Thunberg had held a roundtable with party leaders, where Prime Minister Theresa May was empty-chaired after she declined to attend.
But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn met the young activist and tweeted an image of himself with her in front of a portrait of Tony Benn.
He wrote: "It was a pleasure welcoming UK youth climate strikers and Greta Thunberg to parliament.
"Young people will be the most affected by climate change - seeing them take charge of their future is inspiring.
"Labour's committed to working with young people campaigning to save our planet."
After her speech, Miss Thunberg was asked what she would say to US President Donald Trump to steer him away from climate change denial.
But the schoolgirl said there was nothing she could say as he would not listen. She said: "If I were to speak to Donald Trump today I don't think there is much I could say to make him change his mind.
"Obviously he must have scientists coming to talk to him all the time, so he is obviously not listening to the scientists. There is nothing I could say."
