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03rd Jan 2021

Greta Thunberg takes swipe at conspiracy theorists in 18th birthday Instagram post

Greta Thunberg today turned 18, and the climate activist marked the occasion by taking a swipe at conspiracy theorists in an Instagram post

Alex Roberts

The climate activist turned 18 today

Greta Thunberg has taken a swipe at conspiracy theorists in an Instagram post published on her 18th birthday.

Thunberg said: “Thank you so much for all the well-wishes on my 18th birthday!

“Tonight you will find me down at the local pub exposing all the dark secrets behind the climate – and school strike conspiracy and my evil handlers who can no longer control me!

“I am free at last!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CJlqLuvJXQt/

To mark her birthday celebrations, Thunberg was interviewed by the Sunday Times. Even with her birthday gifts, she has expressed a desire to consider the environment above all else.

She told the newspaper: “I don’t need new clothes. I know people who have clothes, so I would ask them if I could borrow them or if they have something they don’t need anymore.

“The worst-case scenario, I guess I’ll buy second-hand.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Thunberg said she actually understands criticism levelled at celebrities for apparent hypocrisy on environmental matters.

She said: “I’m not telling anyone else what to do, but there is a risk when you are vocal about these things and don’t practise as you preach, then you will become criticised for that and what you are saying won’t be taken seriously.”

Back in 2020, the Swede said two years had been lost due to climate inactivity.

In an article written for The Guardian alongside fellow young activists, Thunberg said:

“Looking back [over two years], a lot has happened. Many millions have taken to the streets … and on 28 November 2019, the European parliament declared a climate and environmental emergency,” said Thunberg.

“But over these last two years, the world has also emitted over 80bn tonnes of CO2. We have seen continuous natural disasters taking place across the globe. Many lives and livelihoods have been lost, and this is only the very beginning.”

She added: “When it comes to action, we are still in a state of denial. The gap between what we need to do and what’s actually being done is widening by the minute. Effectively, we have lost another two crucial years to political inaction.”