London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jun 21, 2025

Greta Thunberg accuses Davos elite of putting 'corporate greed' above people and planet

Greta Thunberg accuses Davos elite of putting 'corporate greed' above people and planet

The climate activist's comments came after her brief detention at a protest in Germany earlier this week. Social media rumours suggested that her detention was staged - but this was not true.

Greta Thunberg has accused the political and business elite at the World Economic Forum in Davos of putting "corporate greed" and "short-term profits" above the planet.

Speaking alongside other activists at Davos in Switzerland, Ms Thunberg, 20, said the elite are "at the core of the climate crisis" and are fuelling the destruction of the planet.

Ms Thunberg's comments follow her brief detention at an eco protest in Germany against the demolition of a village to expand a nearby coal mine on Tuesday.

Climate protests at Davos

She said: "We are right now in Davos where basically the people who are mostly fuelling the destruction of the planet, the people who are at the very core of the climate crisis, the people who are investing in fossil fuels. Yet somehow these are the people that we seem to rely on solving our problems.

"They have proven time and time again that they are not prioritising that. They are prioritising self-greed, corporate greed and short-term economic profits above people and above planet."

She was joined by other activists who brought a joint letter signed by nearly 900,000 people calling on fossil fuel company bosses to stop all new oil and gas projects.

Protests have been staged at the forum by dozens of climate activists. Some with clown makeup waved banners and chanted slogans at the end of the Davos Promenade on Sunday.

While the forum has discussed the need to address climate change among other topics, it has faced criticism for being a talking shop that results in little direct action.

Ms Thunberg said the change needed is not very likely to come from inside Davos, but from the "bottom-up" and public pressure from the outside.

Police officers carry Thunberg


Detention was not staged - despite rumours


Despite claims circulating on social media, Ms Thunberg's brief detention at a protest near Luetzerath village in western Germany was not staged.

The rumours suggested the incident was staged with the police.

However, German police, Reuters journalists and photographers at the site confirmed this was false.

A spokesperson for Aachen police said that their detainment of Ms Thunberg was not staged, saying they are not "extras" for her.

Scientists say no new fossil fuel projects can go ahead if the world is to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius in line with the climate goals set in Paris in 2015.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
×