Greta Thunberg took to the stage at the Glastonbury Festival today and warned the huge crowd of a 'climate and ecological emergency'. The 19-year-old environment activist from Sweden delivered a speech from the Pyramid Stage to rapturous applause.
Thunberg - whose surprise appearance at Worthy Farm came ahead of the HAIM set on Saturday evening - told the crowd 'we are in the beginning of a climate and ecological emergency' as she opened her speech. She also called on society to 'stand their ground' in the fight to counteract the global climate crisis.
Speaking from the stage the teenager said: "We are approaching the precipice and I would strongly suggest that all of those who have not yet been greenwashed out of our senses to stand our ground.
"Do you not let them drag us another inch closer to the edge. Right now is where we stand our ground." Thunberg also used her speech to call out what she called 'forces of greed'.
"This is not the new normal. This crisis will continue to get worse until we prioritise people and planet over profits and greed," she said. "The forces of greed and profit and planetary destruction are so powerful our fight for the natural world is limited to a desperate struggle to avoid a total natural catastrophe.
"We should be fighting for people and for nature, but instead we are fighting against those who are set on destroying it. Today, our political leaders are allowed to say one thing then do the exact opposite."
"The delicately balanced natural patterns and cycles that are a vital part of the systems that sustain life on earth as we know it are being disrupted, and the consequences could be catastrophic.
The activist referenced the rise in CO2 emissions and how “fundamental changes to our societies” were required if the targets of the Paris Agreement were to be met. Addressing the actions taken by global leaders, Thunberg said: “World leaders have been very busy. They have actively created loopholes and benefited the industries of destructive industries.”
She said she feels society has come to “expect” world leaders to lie, adding: “We should be fighting for people and for nature, but instead we are fighting against those who are set on destroying it. “Today our political leaders are allowed to say one thing and do the exact opposite. They can claim to be climate leaders, while at the same time expand their nation’s fossil fuel infrastructure.”
However, the climate activist said the situation is not without hope, adding that she feels there is still time to choose a path which is “sustainable” and “leads to a future for everyone”. The teenager said: “Instead of looking for hope, start creating that hope yourself. We are approaching a precipice, and I would strongly suggest that all of those who have not yet been greenwashed out of our senses stand our ground.
“Do not let them drag us another inch closer to the edge, not one inch. Right here and right now is where we stand our ground.”
The fourth day of the Glastonbury festival could be a case of “Here Comes The Sun”, with revellers set to enjoy a sunny day with shattered showers at Worthy Farm. Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said: “Today is going to be a breezy day with sunny spells and some scattered showers.
“The showers could be heavy at times but they should move through quickly, and it will be feeling relatively fresh compared to the first couple of days at the festival. A maximum temperature of 20C today.”
Sir Paul McCartney will headline the Pyramid stage on Saturday night, making history as the oldest performer at the festival. Sir Paul's set comes a day after Billie Eilish became the festival's youngest ever solo artist.
The former Beatle’s headline show will come exactly a week after he celebrated his 80th birthday and more than 60 years of making music.
There will also be musical stars across the festival’s multiple stages, with US pop star Olivia Rodrigo and rapper Megan Thee Stallion both playing on the Other Stage. While Mercury-winner Celeste will play the West Holts Stage, with The Hoosiers headlining the Avalon Stage and Jessie Ware closing The Park Stage.
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