Greta Thunberg’s name has become synonymous with climate activism, but her influence extends far beyond protest signs and speeches. But who actually is the young Swedish environmental activist?
Who is Greta Thunberg and how did she become famous?
Greta Thunberg is a young environmental activist from Sweden who rose to prominence in 2018 when she, aged 15 years old at the time, began striking outside the Swedish parliament on Fridays against climate change. Since then, she has become the face of the youth climate movement, addressing the UN, joining other young school strikers around the world, and sailing across the Atlantic Ocean to America on a carbon-free yacht. She was named as the 2019 person of the year by Time magazine, and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Greta Thunberg has Asperger's syndrome, which falls under the umbrella diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. She has described it as a gift, and as being different as a “superpower”.
In 2021, BBC One hosted a three-part documentary, Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World, which followed the year Thunberg took off from school to travel around the world and witness the impact of climate change on the planet. During this year, she met Sir David Attenborough – one of the key moments in the broadcaster’s championing of climate change.
Since graduating from high school in 2023, Thunberg has continued to draw international attention from her protesting. As well as climate change, Thunberg’s activism has evolved to include other causes, supporting Ukraine, Palestine, Armenia and Western Sahara in their conflicts.
What species have been named after Greta Thunberg?
The Swedish activist has had multiple animal species named after her. These include a rainfrog (Pristimantis gretathunbergae), a snail (Craspedotropis gretathunbergae), a spider (Chibchea thunbergae), a beetle (Nelloptodes gretae) and a whole genus of huntsman spiders (Thunberga).
In 2025, taxonomists examined a small white micro-moth (Topiris candidella) held in the collections of the Natural History Museum in London. The analysis of this moth helped discover 13 other species in its genus, 11 of which were new to science. One of these was named T. thunbergella in honour of Greta Thunberg.
Greta Thunberg’s family
Greta's parents are Malena Ernman, an opera singer, and Svante Thunberg, an actor. She has a younger sister.
Where is she from?
Greta Thunberg was born in Stockholm, Sweden.
How old is Greta Thunberg?
Greta Thunberg was born on 3 January 2003.
