The Daily Show: Ears Edition - Greta Thunberg on Inspiring Others to Take a Stand Against Climate Change

Episode Date: August 10, 2021

Greta Thunberg talks about her decision to no longer travel by plane and describes how a lack of understanding of climate change is impacting the planet. Originally aired September 2019. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Welcome to the Daily Show. Thank you so much. And welcome to New York City. You came here on a zero emissions boat. And part of me thinks that's because you love the climate. The other part of me wonders if that's th is is is is is is is is, that is, that is, that is, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's that's thi thi thi thi thi- thi- thi- thi- thi- thi- thi- thi- thi-s, to to to to to thi-s, thi- thi- thi- thi- thi- thi- thi- thi- thi- thi- thi- thi- thi- thi- thi- thi- thi- thi- thi-a thi-s, thi-s, thi-s thi-s thi-s thi-s thi-s news news news, thi-s''ni-si-see. thi-se. thi-se. thi-sne. thi-s, thi-s, emissions boat and part of me thinks that's because you love the climate. The other part of me wonders if that's just your Viking heritage. Maybe it is. It might be? Tell me why you did that. Why didn't you fly to New York City to come and you know speak at the UN and you know inspire people to move forward in the climate change movement? I did it because I have, since a few years, stopped flying

because of the enormous impact aviation has on the climate individually. And just to make a stand, and I am one of the very few people in the world who can actually do such a trip, so I thought, why not? Wow. I mean, I know I wouldn't do that as a kid, and I wouldn't do it now. But what is inspiring is your determination, and what's inspiring is that it doesn't just affect other young people. It started to affect older generations in Sweden. In Germany,

people are starting to call it the Greta effect where people are taking more trains. Since you started this movement, they've said they feel ashamed to fly unnecessarily in Europe. Your mom is an opera singer and she stopped flying, which means she couldn't perform the way she used to. Do you sometimes feel bad that she can't perform or are you more excited that she's not part of I guess polluting the planet? I don't care honestly about how she performs. She... She... She's...

She's doing musicals now. So I mean it she had to change career, but it wasn't that big. And the planet is the most important thing for you. Yeah, I mean, for all of us, I think it should be. Why? Why? Why do you think... Why do you think young people are so focused on climate change now? There's a definite disconnect between older generations and younger generations when talking about the climate? Why do you think that is?

I mean, I think it is because we in a way feel like it is more a direct threat. Others feel like I won't be alive then anyway, so screw it. But we actually know that these consequences will face us during our lifetime. And it is already happening now, and it will get worse. And so I think that is why so many young people especially care about this. And of course the awareness is not as it needs to be. It's not as much as it needs to be. People are still very unaware, it's my experience. And so we need to continue, but you can see that among young people the concern

is bigger. What do you think people need to learn about climate change? Many people have heard of the climate warming up. Some people have a small understanding of what it means but what do you think is lacking in the understanding of this issue? I think pretty much everything because I mean we know that something is wrong, that the planet is warming because of increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and that might lead to that the ice caps will melt and the global temperature will rise, and there will be more extreme weather events and so on. But they don't understand how severe this crisis actually is.

And it is because they have not been informed. I mean, we are right now in the beginning of the sixth mass extinction, and people don't know these things. Up to 200 species go extinct every single day. And people don't even know that we have, for a 67% chance of limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. We had on January 1st, 2018, 420 gigatons of carbon dioxide left to emit to stay within that target.

And now we are already down to less than 360. If we continue at the same emission level as now, we have less than eight and a half years until that budget is gone, according to the IPCC from the SR 15 report. And that is for a 67% chance. Wow. And, wow. 67% chance, and we're not even hitting those targets. What do you think people could do?

And what do you think governments should be doing? I think people should do, what do you think governments should be doing? I think people should do everything, but I think right now, if I would choose one thing everyone would do, it will be to inform yourself, and to try to understand the situation and try to push for a political movement that doesn't exist. Because the politics needed to fix this doesn't exist today. So I think what we should do as individuals is to use the power of democracy to make our voices heard and to make sure that the people in power actually cannot continue to ignore

this. That's powerful. Wow. Do you feel a difference in the conversation traveling from Sweden to America? Is there a different feeling around climate change? I would say yes, because here it's, it feels like it is being discussed as something you, whether you believe in or not believe in. And where I come from, it's more like, it's a fact. And...

And... And... So then I have to ask you this. You sail from Europe to New York City. New York City is quite an assault on the senses when you come from anywhere else. What is the biggest thing that has stuck out to you in New York City? I mean, just everything, all the impressions, everything is so much, so big, so loud, and...

And... People talk so loud here. And because when you are on that boat, when I was on that boat, there is nothing, there is just the ocean, and of course the sound of the waves crushing, but that's it. No, no smells. apart from sweat, but... Right. So, I remember the first thing I noticed when I... when we came into the harbor was I woke up and suddenly it smelled something. And of course it was pollution, but it's still something.

And that, and that was, it was undescribable. To go from this extreme environment, you're disconnected from everything and everyone. You only have yourself in the ocean, and the boat, of course, to New York. That is an accurate and brilliant description of New York. It is undescribable and it smells. I think that is fantastic. I'm excited for your journey.

I can't wait to see what else you're going to do. Thank you for making to do. Thank you for making time for us. The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Ears Edition. Subscribe to the Daily Show on YouTube for exclusive content and stream full episodes any time on Paramount Plus. When 60 Minutes premiered in September 1968, there was nothing like it. This is 60 Minutes.

It's a kind of a magazine for television. Very few have been given access to the treasures in our archives. But that's all about to change. Like none of this stuff gets looked at. That's what's incredible. I'm Seth Done of CBS News, listen to 60 Minutes, a second look on Apple podcasts starting September 17. This has been a Comedy Central Podcast.