Greta Thunberg suggests UK is failing to take 'real action' on climate crisis

The Swedish teenager was pictured surrounded by other climate activists as she arrived in Glasgow ahead of the COP26 summit.

Speaking before the crunch talks on Monday, Thunberg said she believes it is “possible in theory” to keep global warming below 1.5C, but added: “It’s up to us if we want that to happen.”

In an interview with the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Thunberg said when countries show a “pattern” of policies in which they avoid taking “real action” it shows that the climate is not their main priority.

She was asked about the UK’s position on leading on climate change in the wake of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s recent announcement that there would be a 50% cut in air passenger duty (APD) for domestic flights.

“Of course we can’t talk about this in, like, one single policy and so on. But when you see a pattern of these policies, that all the time are avoiding taking real action, then I think you can draw conclusions from that pattern,” Thunberg explained.

“That climate action is not really our main priority right now.”

The teenager, who said she has not officially been invited to speak at the summit, believes that as long as no-one is hurt then it can be necessary to “anger some people”, when asked about environmental demonstrations.

Her comments come at a time when environmental group Insulate Britain have been blocking roads, prompting anger and frustration from some motorists.

Thunberg told Marr: “To make clear, as long as no-one gets hurt … then I think sometimes you need to anger some people.

“Like, for instance, the school strike movement would never have become so big if there wasn’t friction, if some people didn’t get pissed off.”

Greta Thunberg arrives at Glasgow Central ahead of COP26

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Britons, her fellow Swedes and people in other countries with clear rights to protest have “more responsibility” to demonstrate on climate change, she said.

Explaining that she tries to speak to activists in countries like China where people do not have the same rights, Thunberg said: “It makes you just feel so grateful that we are actually able to protest and that just puts more responsibility on us who actually have the right to protest, to use that right “Not just for our sake but for everyone’s sake, especially for their sake to help them as well.”

Asked about the Queen’s comments earlier this month when the monarch appeared to suggest she is irritated by a lack of action in tackling the climate crisis, Thunberg said she thinks most people would agree.

In a clip during a trip to Cardiff in which she appeared to be talking about the Cop26 conference, the Queen could be heard to say it is “irritating” when “they talk, but they don’t do”.

Thunberg told Marr: “Yeah, I think most people agree with that.”

Asked if hearing the views of leaders such as the Pope makes a difference, she replied: “I think when people like that speak up, I think it does make a real difference, when they are bold enough.

“Of course, many people just do it because it makes them popular, it makes them sound good. But, of course, then I’m sure that there are many people who actually do it because they care as well.”

While the climate campaigner criticised China for being “out of touch” in still building coal power plants, she warned that there will always be other countries to blame for not doing enough and urged the world to work together.

She said: “It’s more important that we need to work together internationally and globally to make sure that everyone does this transition, not the least pushing China who are still building coal power plants which today is quite out of touch with reality if you ask me.”

Striking a hopeful note, she added: “We can always prevent things from getting worse. It’s never too late to do as much as we can.”