Greta Thunberg has told members of Congress to “save your praise” after she was hailed for her “superpower” in sparking a youth-driven fight against climate change.
The 16-year-old appeared unimpressed after a senator said she and other young activists were bringing “moral clarity” to the worldwide battle against global warming.
"Save your praise," she told Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey, who made the remark, and other Democrats at a Senate forum Tuesday. "We don't want it," she added, especially if officials intend to talk about climate change "without doing anything about it."
The young Swedish activist told Democratic senators at the invitation-only forum: "I know you're trying… but just not hard enough. Sorry."
Miss Thunberg gained international attention by inspiring a series of protests and school strikes.
Activists are calling for immediate action from the world's governments to halt global warming, reduce fossil fuel consumption and avert environmental catastrophe.
The youngster’s activism has drawn a passionate following of children essentially challenging their elders to take action.
Instead of listening to her and other teenagers, lawmakers should invite scientists for their expertise on ways to slow a catastrophic rise in global temperatures, Miss Thunberg said.
"This is not about us. This is not about youth activists," she said. "We don't want to be heard. We want the science to be heard."
Despite her request, lawmakers bombarded Miss Thunberg and other youth activists with praise, saying they had a sparked a global movement that is already being felt in the 2020 presidential campaign and in the halls of Congress, where lawmakers are debating proposals such as the Green New Deal.
Mr Markey is a co-sponsor of the Green New Deal, which would aim to shift the US economy away from fossil fuels such as oil and coal and replace them with renewable sources such as wind and solar power.
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"We need your leadership," he told Miss Thunberg and other activists. "It's creating a new X factor" to boost efforts to fight climate change.
Last month, Miss Thunberg crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a solar-powered boat, landing in New York City on Aug. 28.
She is in Washington for several days of rallies and lobbying efforts in advance of Friday's global climate strike.
Miss Thunberg will address the UN Climate Action Summit in New York on Monday.
