Greta Thunberg sports her infamous 'Trump death stare' and joins protesters in Madrid after telling UN climate summit her movement is 'getting bigger and louder'

  • Greta Thunberg arrived in Madrid early Friday after taking a 10-hour train from Portuguese capital Lisbon
  • She was driven away from the station in an electric car before going to the UN climate conference in the city
  • Greta and a group of teens marched into the lobby, sang protest anthems and staged a sit-in demonstration
  • It comes after she spent three weeks sailing to Europe from the US because she refuses to use air travel 

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Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg sported her infamous 'Trump death stare' today as she joined protesters in Madrid following a UN climate summit where she told world leaders her movement is 'getting bigger and louder'.

The 16-year-old activist was pictured with other young people clutching her famed 'school strike for climate' banner in the Spanish capital this evening as she demanded further action.

Ms Thunberg arrived in the city's main railway station from Portugal this morning, following a three-week sailing trip across the Atlantic, because she has sworn off flying due to the threat it poses for the environment.

Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere exceeded the average yearly increase of the last decade and hit a new record in 2018, a report published at the end of last month revealed, as countries continued to fail to hit their emissions reduction targets.  

Teenage climate activist Great Thunberg pictured arriving at a climate change protest march in Madrid, Spain, following a summit that she refused to fly to because she is worried about the environment

Teenage climate activist Great Thunberg pictured arriving at a climate change protest march in Madrid, Spain, following a summit that she refused to fly to because she is worried about the environment

Greta pictured with others at the protests in the Spanish capital
She called on world leaders to take action

The 16-year-old climate change activist joined others in the Spanish capital to call on world leaders to take action to lower greenhouse gas emissions

Ms Thunberg pictured arriving at the protest march as the COP25 summit is held in Madrid, Spain. She is holding her banner

Ms Thunberg pictured arriving at the protest march as the COP25 summit is held in Madrid, Spain. She is holding her banner

Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg today told a panel at a UN climate summit that the movement is 'getting bigger and bigger' but 'of course that does not translate into political action'
Ms Thunberg made the comments to a panel in Madrid where she arrived today clutching her famous 'school strike for climate' banner as she joined thousands of other young people in a march to demand world leaders take real action against climate change

Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg today told a panel at a UN climate summit that the movement is 'getting bigger and bigger' but 'of course that does not translate into political action'. Ms Thunberg made the comments to a panel in Madrid where she arrived today clutching her famous 'school strike for climate' banner as she joined thousands of other young people in a march to demand world leaders take real action against climate change

Greta Thunberg arrives in Madrid
Greta Thunberg arrives in Madrid

Greta Thunberg arrives in Madrid clutching her famous 'climate strike' protest sign as she prepares to lead marchers outside a UN conference taking place in the city

Speaking to the conference, she said: 'We are getting bigger and bigger and our voices are being heard more and more, but of course that does not translate into political action.'  

'We don't want to continue. We would love some action from people in power,' she said. 'People are suffering and dying from the climate and ecological emergency today and we cannot wait any longer.'

Thunberg said she hoped the two-week annual round of climate negotiations, which opened in Madrid on Monday, would lead to 'concrete action' and that world leaders would grasp the urgency of the climate crisis.

'Of course there is no victory, because the only thing we want to see is real action,' Thunberg said. 'So we have achieved a lot, but if you look at it from a certain point of view we have achieved nothing.' 

The teenage activist, who sparked a global youth-led protest movement after striking outside the Swedish parliament last year, said that asking children to skip school to protest inaction by governments on climate change was 'not a sustainable solution'. 

After making it through a swarm of media cameras and microphones at the Spanish capital's northern train station earlier, the Swedish teen posted an ironic tweet saying that she had 'successfully managed to sneak into Madrid.'

'I don't think anyone saw me...,' she added. 'Anyway it's great to be in Spain!'

She added: 'We don't want to continue. We would love some action from people in power'

Thunberg said she hoped the two-week annual round of climate negotiations, which opened in Madrid on Monday, would lead to 'concrete action' and that world leaders would grasp the urgency of the climate crisis

Thunberg said she hoped the two-week annual round of climate negotiations, which opened in Madrid on Monday, would lead to 'concrete action' and that world leaders would grasp the urgency of the climate crisis

After making it through a swarm of media cameras and microphones at the Spanish capital's northern train station earlier, the Swedish teen posted an ironic tweet saying that she had 'successfully managed to sneak into Madrid'

After making it through a swarm of media cameras and microphones at the Spanish capital's northern train station earlier, the Swedish teen posted an ironic tweet saying that she had 'successfully managed to sneak into Madrid'

The 16-year-old activist spent 10 hours travelling to the Spanish capital via train from Lisbon - shunning air travel because of the environmental impact 

It comes after Greta spent three weeks sailing to Portugal from the US when the location of the conference was changed from Chile to Madrid at the last minute

It comes after Greta spent three weeks sailing to Portugal from the US when the location of the conference was changed from Chile to Madrid at the last minute

The teenage activist was mobbed by media as she arrived at the station before being led out under police guard

The teenage activist was mobbed by media as she arrived at the station before being led out under police guard

Greta has become a figurehead of global protests over climate after she began leaving school each Friday to protest outside parliament in Stockholm

Greta has become a figurehead of global protests over climate after she began leaving school each Friday to protest outside parliament in Stockholm

Greta holding her sign which says 'school strike for climate' in Swedish
Greta Thunberg in Madrid

Greta plans to march outside the COP25 conference, where leaders from 200 countries are meeting to discuss action on climate change

The Spanish capital is hosting two-week, United Nations-sponsored talks aimed at streamlining the rules on global carbon markets and agreeing on how poor countries should be compensated for destruction largely caused by emissions from rich nations. 

Later today, Thunberg paid a surprise visit to the venue of the talks and joined a group of some 40 teens staging a sit-in there to demand real action against climate change.

Holding hands, the teens sang 'power for the people,' and displayed banners with the logo of Fridays for Future, the global climate movement inspired by Thunberg.

The talks come as scientific evidence mounts about disasters that could ensue from further global warming, including a study commissioned by 14 seafaring nations due to be published Friday that predicts that unchecked climate change could devastate fishery industries and coral reef tourism.

That could cause hundreds of billions of dollars in losses by 2050, says the report, adding that limiting global warming would lessen the economic impact for coastal countries, but that they also need to adapt to ocean changes.

The presence in Madrid of Thunberg is expected to shift the attention to demands for greater action by non-governmental organizations and a whole new generation of environment-minded activists.

Past appearances by the 16-year-old have won her plaudits from some leaders - and criticism from others who've taken offense at the angry tone of her speeches.

After being driven away from the station in an electric car, Greta made a surprise visit to the centre where the conference is being held and staged a sit-in protest along with other teenagers

After being driven away from the station in an electric car, Greta made a surprise visit to the centre where the conference is being held and staged a sit-in protest along with other teenagers

Leaders from 200 countries have gathered for the COP25 conference in Madrid to discuss action on climate change, which is due to last until the end of next week

Leaders from 200 countries have gathered for the COP25 conference in Madrid to discuss action on climate change, which is due to last until the end of next week

Greta Thunberg is escorted by United Nations security officers as she arrives to attend the fifth day of the UN Climate Change Conference COP25 in Madrid

Greta Thunberg is escorted by United Nations security officers as she arrives to attend the fifth day of the UN Climate Change Conference COP25 in Madrid

The teens sang protest anthem 'power for the people' and displayed banners with the logo of Fridays for Future, the global climate movement inspired by Thunberg

The teens sang protest anthem 'power for the people' and displayed banners with the logo of Fridays for Future, the global climate movement inspired by Thunberg

Greta's weekly protests for action on climate change outside Stockholm's parliament have since spread across the globe, and she has become a figurehead of the movement

Greta's weekly protests for action on climate change outside Stockholm's parliament have since spread across the globe, and she has become a figurehead of the movement

Greta speaks to other climate activists as she stages a sit-in protest at the conference centre in Madrid where world leaders are meeting to discuss climate issues

Greta speaks to other climate activists as she stages a sit-in protest at the conference centre in Madrid where world leaders are meeting to discuss climate issues

An advocate for carbon-free transportation, Thunberg traveled by train overnight from the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, where she arrived earlier this week after sailing across the Atlantic Ocean from the United States by catamaran. 

Greta arrived in Portugal on Tuesday, having hitched a ride on an Australian family's catamaran and sailed for three weeks across the Atlantic.

The trip was undertaken at short notice because the conference was due to take place in Chile, but the location was changed due to unrest there. 

It marks the second trans-Atlantic voyage for Greta in four months, after she sailed from Europe to New York to attend the climate conference there in September. 

For her latest voyage, she and her father Svante more than 3,000 miles from Hampton, Virginia to Lisbon aboard a 48-foot catamaran, the La Vagabonde.

They began their journey on November 13 and landed on December 3.

Climate change activist Greta Thunberg arrives aboard the yacht La Vagabonde at Santo Amaro port in Lisbon, Portugal on Wednesday

Climate change activist Greta Thunberg arrives aboard the yacht La Vagabonde at Santo Amaro port in Lisbon, Portugal on Wednesday

The teenager and her father Svante had travelled more than 3,000 miles from Hampton, Virginia to Lisbon aboard 48-foot catamaran, the La Vagabonde

The teenager and her father Svante had travelled more than 3,000 miles from Hampton, Virginia to Lisbon aboard 48-foot catamaran, the La Vagabonde

Posting on Instagram as she headed into the coastal capital, Greta shared a photograph of herself aboard the vessel and wrote: 'Heading into Lisbon!!'

The activist will spend the day holding meetings with Portuguese climate activists and resting before her she departs for Spain.

The night before her Wednesday arrival, Greta posted a snap of the vessel in rough seas, writing: 'Our last day on the ocean! We can now almost smell land! We expect to arrive at Doca de Santo Amaro, Lisbon sometime between 8.00-10.00 tomorrow morning.' 

Portugal's environment minister Matos Fernandes thanked Greta for her activism in a letter last Thursday, having already departed for COP25.

Greta (right), who became world famous for founding the 'school strikes for the climate' movement, refuses to fly in planes because of the carbon footprint

Greta (right), who became world famous for founding the 'school strikes for the climate' movement, refuses to fly in planes because of the carbon footprint

Greta began her journey on November 13 in order to attend the COP25 summit in Madrid and save approximately two or three tons of carbon dioxide emissions

Greta began her journey on November 13 in order to attend the COP25 summit in Madrid and save approximately two or three tons of carbon dioxide emissions

The activist will spend the day holding meetings with Portuguese climate activists and resting before her she departs for Spain

The activist will spend the day holding meetings with Portuguese climate activists and resting before her she departs for Spain

Pictured: Greta on La Vagabonde
Pictured: Greta on La Vagabonde

The night before her Wednesday arrival, Greta posted a photograph of the vessel in rough seas, writing: 'Our last day on the ocean!'

Greta had travelled more than 3,000 miles aboard the yacht from Virginia to Portugal

Greta had travelled more than 3,000 miles aboard the yacht from Virginia to Portugal 

Pictured: Greta and her father Svante Thunberg, 50, arrive at Santo Amaro port in Lisbon

Pictured: Greta and her father Svante Thunberg, 50, arrive at Santo Amaro port in Lisbon

Posting on Instagram as she headed into the coastal capital, Greta shared a photograph of herself aboard the vessel and wrote: 'Heading into Lisbon!!'

Posting on Instagram as she headed into the coastal capital, Greta shared a photograph of herself aboard the vessel and wrote: 'Heading into Lisbon!!'

The country's president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, said it was a 'great pleasure' to have her in Lisbon but did not feel it was his place to personally greet the activist. 

Greta missed last Friday's climate strikes as heavy winds delayed her arrival to Lisbon, but she is due to join thousands of activists marching in Madrid this week on the fringes of the COP25.

The two-week gathering kicked off on Monday with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warning that the planet had reached a 'point of no return'. 

Top priorities include establishing a common time frame for countries to implement their national climate commitment plans, and resolving the issue of international carbon markets - the only aspect of the Paris rule book which delegates failed to agree on at last year's COP24 in Poland.

'She should shut up and go back to school': Jeremy Clarkson launches scathing attack on Greta 

Jeremy Clarkson told Greta Thunberg to 'shut up and go back to school' in an excoriating attack on the teenage environmental activist.

The outspoken broadcaster, 59, hit out at the Swedish campaigner who he dubbed 'mad and dangerous', the latest in a series of attacks against the 16-year-old. 

Clarkson, who was fired from the BBC in 2015 after rowing with a Top Gear producer over a steak, was a long time critic of global warming science but recently admitted  he'd had a change of heart after filming in southeast Asia.   

The outspoken broadcaster, 59, hit out at the Swedish eco-warrior who he dubbed 'mad and dangerous', the latest in a series of attacks against the 16-year-old

The outspoken broadcaster, 59, hit out at the Swedish eco-warrior who he dubbed 'mad and dangerous', the latest in a series of attacks against the 16-year-old 

The television presenter, who was in Australia promoting the latest season of The Grand Tour, doubled down on his criticisms of the climate change campaigner.

'She's mad and she's dangerous and she's causing young children sleepless nights with her idiocy,' he said. 'I think she needs to go back to school and shut up.'

He continued: 'I think she's a weird Swede with a bad temper. Nothing will be achieved by sailing across the ocean in a diesel-powered yacht, and then lying about the diesel engine. 

He added that we've been aware of climate change for quite some time, and now 'there's that weird Swede running around making all sorts of 'we're going to die' noises, so we're all aware of it.

'But rather than having her jumping up and down and waving her arms in the air, you can actually go there and say, 'Bloody hellfire! Look at what this climate change has done to this place.'

'We simply said, 'Here's an example of it.' What do you want me to do now? Get on my carbon fibre yacht and go and shout at Donald Trump?' 

Clarkson, who was fired from the BBC in 2015 after rowing with a Top Gear producer over a steak, was a long time critic of global warming science but recently admitted he'd had a change of heart after filming in southeast Asia

Clarkson, who was fired from the BBC in 2015 after rowing with a Top Gear producer over a steak, was a long time critic of global warming science but recently admitted he'd had a change of heart after filming in southeast Asia 

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