Teenage activist inspires school strikes to protest climate change after telling leaders they are ‘not mature enough’

'Whoever you are, wherever you are, we need you now,' says Greta Thunberg, who has been playing truant to protest climate change since September

A Swedish teenager who has been playing truant to protest climate change has released a video calling for others around the world to join her on strike.

Greta Thunberg’s climate protests, where she has sat outside Swedish parliament every Friday since September, have captured the world’s attention.

She has also emerged as an unlikely star at the COP24 summit.

“We are at week two of the negotiations here, and as of now there are no signs of commitments to climate action”, she said.

“Whoever you are, wherever you are, we need you now. This Friday, 14 December, I am calling for an international climate strike. Please strike with us. Stand outside your parliament or local government office even for just a short while to let them know we demand climate action.”

Pupils in Germany and Poland took up the call to action, which was also welcomed by attendees at the summit who fear a satisfactory agreement will not be met.

Shortly after releasing her call, Greta spoke at the event’s plenary session, telling negotiators; “You are not mature enough to tell it like it is”, to thunderous applause.