Obama meets with Greta Thunberg: ‘One of our planet’s greatest advocates’

Former President Obama met with 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg on Tuesday as part of her visit to Washington, D.C., to lobby lawmakers on environmental issues.

“Just 16, @GretaThunberg is already one of our planet’s greatest advocates. Recognizing that her generation will bear the brunt of climate change, she’s unafraid to push for real action. She embodies our vision at the @ObamaFoundation: A future shaped by young leaders like her,” Obama tweeted, including a photo of the meeting.

Just 16, @GretaThunberg is already one of our planet’s greatest advocates. Recognizing that her generation will bear the brunt of climate change, she’s unafraid to push for real action. She embodies our vision at the @ObamaFoundation: A future shaped by young leaders like her. pic.twitter.com/VgCPAaDp3C

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 17, 2019

{mosads}Thunberg, who traveled to the U.S. from the U.K. on an emissions-free yacht, visited D.C. to speak before Congress and meet with lawmakers.

She is scheduled visit to New York City for the United Nations Climate Action Summit and participate in a nationwide U.S. equivalent of the school strikes for climate action that she originated outside Sweden’s Parliament last August.

The Swedish activist also met with Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), the sponsor of the Green New Deal resolution, while visiting Congress.

By failing to take meaningful action on climate, our leaders failed the young people of the world. A generation of leaders owes our youngest generations an apology & a commitment to finally take the bold action we’ve failed to achieve. Proud to join young climate activists today. pic.twitter.com/B7DEPKIcfK

— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) September 17, 2019