Will Greta save the planet?

One year ago, a 15-year-old girl from Sweden started protesting outside the Swedish parliament, urging the government to pay attention to the world’s climate crisis. Now Greta Thunberg has become the face of environmental activism. Two weeks ago, when Greta set sail to America on a zero carbon boat, the internet exploded with some fairly vicious commentary. She was called a ‘pig-tailed school drop-out’ and climate change advocates rushed to, sometimes just as viciously, defend her. This week her boat is due to arrive in New York, hometown of fossil fuel champion, US president Donald Trump, what will happen next nobody yet knows.

In this episode, we hear from Justin Rowlatt who met her when she was last on dry land in Plymouth and Swedish journalist who knows all about her family background. We’ll also hear from writer Julian Baggini, who is worried about Greta’s role in the culture wars. How could pinning too much on one teen activist be oversimplifying the climate problem?

Producers: Seren Jones, Lucy Hancock Mixed by Andy Mills Editor: John Shields