Calling for End of "War Against Nature," Greta Thunberg's Arrival in US Brings Swell of Attention to Global Climate Strike

After two weeks of sailing, 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg arrived in New York on Wednesday with an urgent call to action.

“The climate and ecological crisis is a global crisis, and the biggest crisis humanity has ever faced. And if we don’t manage to work together to cooperate… despite our differences, then we will fail. So we need to stand together,” Thunberg told a crowd of supporters who gathered to celebrate her arrival. “Let’s not wait any longer. Let’s do it now.”

Thunberg’s lonely protest outside the Swedish parliament building last August, and her persistent activism in the months since, sparked a wave of youth-led climate demonstrations across the world and inspired the global climate strikes set to kick off in over a 150 countries next month.

Organizers expect the strikes, scheduled to begin Sept. 20, to be the largest climate demonstration since the “Fridays for Future” movement launched—and maybe ever.

“Sea levels are rising, and so are we!” activists chanted as the emissions-free boat that carried Thunberg across the Atlantic approached New York.

Thunberg’s journey by boat, which stemmed from her refusal to fly due to the carbon emissions spouted by planes, garnered significant coverage from America’s major television networks, bringing more attention to the forthcoming week of global climate action.

Upon reaching shore, Thunberg said it is “insane that a 16-year-old has to cross the Atlantic Ocean to make a stand.” But in doing so, the Swedish environmentalist galvanized young people who are eager to take to the streets and force political leaders to act on the existential threat posed by the climate crisis.