London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Sep 13, 2026

Greta Thunberg: Sometimes you need to anger people, says activist

Greta Thunberg: Sometimes you need to anger people, says activist

Greta Thunberg has defended the tactics of environmental activists who have blocked roads, saying "sometimes you need to anger people".

But the teenage campaigner, who is in Glasgow for the COP26 summit, told the BBC it was important to ensure no-one was hurt.

It comes after Insulate Britain protesters have repeatedly brought major roads to a standstill.

Asked if she wanted to be a politician herself, Ms Thunberg said: "Not yet."

The 18-year-old was surrounded by police, media and activists when she arrived for the climate change summit in Glasgow by train on Saturday evening.

She told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show people needed to demonstrate "massive public pressure" on politicians to ensure they did enough to reduce carbon emissions.

Asked about the tactics of campaigners who blocked roads, she said: "As long as no-one gets hurt then I think sometimes you need to anger some people."

The activist, who shot to fame worldwide after leading school strikes to protest against climate change, said her own movement "would never have become so big if there wasn't friction".

Ms Thunberg said it was "possible in theory" to reach an agreement in Glasgow to keep global warming below 1.5C, which scientists say will avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

"We know that change is possible, because we can look back in history and see that there have been massive changes in society that have been unprecedented," Ms Thunberg said.

"If we felt like there wasn't any hope, we wouldn't be activists."

Asked if she would seek elected office now she was 18, she said she had considered the possibility, "but no - at least not now".

"We need to reach a critical mass with people who are demanding change and right now it's more efficient to do that from the streets than from the inside.

She said if nations changed their approach from looking for "loopholes and excuses not to take action", then "we could achieve massive changes".

Even if COP26 fails to reach an agreement, she said: "There is not a point where everything is lost.

"We can always prevent things from getting worse. It's never too late to do as much as we can."

The COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow in November is seen as crucial if climate change is to be brought under control. Almost 200 countries are being asked for their plans to cut emissions, and it could lead to major changes to our everyday lives.



 Watch as Greta Thunberg says she is still hopeful the world can achieve "massive changes" to combat climate change


Comments

NWOwillfall 5 year ago
And sometimes....you NEED a basic level of education. But that doesnt count when you're a grandchild of the Pedo George Soros.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Tesco Alerts Police After Scammers Use Its Branding in AI-Generated Fraud
Lindy Cameron Appointed First Female Permanent Under-Secretary at UK Foreign Office
UK Government to Rewrite Student Loan Guidance After Mis-Selling Criticism
Welsh First Minister Warns Andy Burnham Government to Respect Devolution
Trump’s Falkland Islands Remarks Trigger New Diplomatic Tension With Britain
Reform UK Receives Record £72 Million Donation From Cryptocurrency Billionaires
UK Bans Imports From Israeli West Bank Settlements and Sanctions Supporting Institutions
Bayeux Tapestry Draws Large Crowds at British Museum
Cuts to International Aid Raise Concerns Over Fragile Overseas Health Systems
UK Airlines and Logistics Operators Adjust Capacity as Fuel Costs Rise
UK Mortgage Arrears Edge Lower in Second Quarter
UK Government Advances New Devolution Offers for English Councils
UK Parliament Begins Debate on NHS Governance and Single Patient Record Reforms
Andy Burnham Launches Number 10 North Devolution Initiative
UK Parliament Rejects Assisted Dying Bill for Terminally Ill Adults
UK Bans Goods From Israeli Settlements in the Occupied West Bank
UK Economy Grows 0.4% in July as Technology Services Strengthen
Metropolitan Police Continue Investigation Into Reform UK Political Financing
Chinese Crypto Entrepreneur Leon Li Identified as Seller of £190 Million London Mansion
Trades Union Congress Proposes Social Energy Tariff Funded by Higher Bank Surcharge
British Chambers of Commerce Calls for State Pension Triple Lock to Be Scrapped
Anthropic Says Claude Helped Disrupt Biological Weapons and Cyber Espionage Threats
UK Imposes Sanctions Over Israeli Settlements and West Bank Violence
UK Reimposes Sectoral Sanctions on Iran’s Aviation, Shipping and Energy Networks
UK Economy Grows 0.4% in July as AI and Programming Services Lift Activity
UK House of Commons Rejects Assisted Dying Bill by 286 Votes to 270
UK Reviews Nationwide Emergency Alert Tests After Systems Meet Reliability Targets
UK Seeks Faster Rail Links Across Northern Industrial Corridors
British Business Bank Allocates £150 Million for High-Growth Companies in Northern England
BBC Warns Staff Strikes Are Possible Amid Pay Dispute and £500 Million Savings Drive
UK Backs Short Extension of UN Sudan Sanctions Regime
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Defends Early Prison Release Reforms and Growth Strategy
Reform UK Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Effort to Circumvent Foreign Donation Rules
UK Analysts Warn Tax Rises or Spending Cuts May Be Needed to Preserve Fiscal Headroom
Jaguar Land Rover Plans Up to 4,000 Job Cuts in £1.7 Billion Cost-Saving Drive
UK Chancellor Warns of Difficult October Budget as Borrowing Costs Rise
UK Declares Israeli Occupation of West Bank Unlawful and Expands Sanctions
UK House of Commons Rejects Assisted Dying Bill for England and Wales
English Councils to Gain Power to Introduce Tourist Taxes by 2028
Kemi Badenoch Reshuffles Conservative Shadow Cabinet
Firefighters Make Progress Containing Major Wildfires in South Wales
John Lewis Partnership Reports £124 Million Loss
Study Says UK AI Data Centres Will Create Only a Quarter of Forecast Jobs
UK Government Considers Higher Industrial Water Prices Amid Supply Pressures
Andy Burnham Holds First Call With Donald Trump as UK Prime Minister
NHS Records Busiest Summer on Record as Heatwaves Drive Hospital Admissions
Home Secretary Orders Police Crackdown on Far-Right Anti-Migrant Vigilantes
UK Supreme Court Rules Northern Ireland Religious Education Curriculum Breaches Human Rights Standards
Markets Price in Four Bank of England Rate Rises by Next Summer
House of Commons Prepares Free Vote on Assisted Dying Bill
×