Greta Thunberg says it's 'strange' Biden is considered a leader on climate change

[Polybius]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Spazito (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: The Hill

Climate activist Greta Thunberg said it was "strange" that President Biden is considered a leader in climate change and questioned his role in tackling the climate crisis.

In an interview with The Washington Post published Monday, Thunberg was asked if she was inspired by Biden or any world leaders fighting global warming and climate change.

"If you call him a leader," Thunberg replied. "I mean, it’s strange that people think of Joe Biden as a leader for the climate when you see what his administration is doing."

Thunberg, 18, has been the face of the youth climate strike, which has turned into a global movement since the teen began protesting in Sweden in 2018. In various appearances around the world, Thunberg has called for world leaders to do more to fight climate change, arguing her generation will see the most damaging effects of global warming if nothing is done.

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/587463-greta-thunberg-says-its-strange-biden-is-considered-a-leader-on

[dem4decades]

1. Greta, meet the Republican Party.

[abqtommy]

8. +100 Ya got that right! nt

[JohnSJ]

10. I think she is too much in her own bubble, she doesn't recognize Allie's when they are staring her

right in the face

[VarryOn]

17. I think she's got some bad lines of code...

Programmers will find the bugs and install a fix.

[AllTooEasy]

40. Probably knows US politics about as much as you know her country's politics

Would you know any better if you were a Swedish citizen?

[VarryOn]

71. You're most certainly correct. I never took a Sweden civics course....

My exposure to Sweden came from the chef on The Muppet Show.

However, if I deigned to lecture the entire world as she does, I would at least try to bone up on the major players and understand a little about them.

When she matures some, maybe she will.

And for God’s sake, smile, Greta!

[betsuni]

37. +1

[AllTooEasy]

39. No, Meet Joe Manchin

Nothing more

[dem4decades]

52. Really? He's one person in the Senate. There's 50 Republicans locked in unison.

[Cobalt Violet]

42. Republicans didn't stop him from cancelling Line 3 permits.

He did that without them.

[George II]

2. Let the Biden bashing begin!

[JohnSJ]

4. Hell, I'll bash her for not being particularly bright.

[NullTuples]

20. She's not wrong though. He opened 80 million new acres for drilling.

In the Gulf of Mexico, six weeks ago.

four weeks ago:
The Biden administration has recommended an overhaul of the nation’s oil and gas leasing program to drill on public land and water. The long-awaited report stops short of recommending an end to oil and gas leasing on public lands & waters, as many environmental groups have urged.

six days ago:
As President Biden closes out his first year in office, he still has not nominated EPA’s top air official, a role that takes on even greater importance with climate legislation stalling on Capitol Hill.

IMO, Pres Biden has made a number of positive moves, but each of them also favor various industries.

I think perhaps Greta wants some small sign that he's willing to put the environment ahead of corporations.

[brush]

27. The BBB bill puts alternative energy initiatives in direct opposition to the carbon...

Last edited Wed Dec 29, 2021, 11:39 AM - Edit history (1)

fuel industry. Biden also got us back on board with the Paris Climate agreement, which idiot trump took us out of.

[JohnSJ]

30. You can't just cut off fossil fuels without having an alternative ready to go. That is why fuel

prices and inflation will hurt us in the midterms unless it can be transitioned

That is what the BBB is all sbout

That she fails to recognize the political reality, will only help the republicans

This instant change demand or “you are the problem, and we won’t support you”, is what helped put trump into the WH

Same crap from Nader in 2000

A 50-50 Senate requires compromise

Because of 2016 we lost the SC, and undid the climate change progress by trump reversing everything Obama did

That she fails to recognize the political situation, is not a winning strategy

[cab67]

61. absolutely

[NullTuples]

70. Yet without her the leftmost voice would be what?

She is necessary as an anchor, IMO. She encourages young people to pressure old politicians to enact change so that the world is still livable by the time she & her peers are their age.

[AllTooEasy]

38. Greta is Swedish, not American, and likely knows as much about US politics as I know about Swedish..

...politics. She probably couldn't name 3 US senators, just as I couldn't name 1 of Sweden's, the UK's, Canada's, China's, or Russia' equivalent of a senator.

Biden is the world's interface to the US, just as Putin is the word's interface to Russia. From the outside, all blame or glory is given to the person at the top. We Americans need to quit our arrogance of believing that the entire world is or should be as intune with US politics as we are.

Instead of denigrating Greta, try educating her.

[JohnSJ]

46. She is effectively saying Biden is part of the problem. Most Europeans are not as naive

as you assume. Sweden is a Constitutional Monarachy where the reigning monarch is a figure head, and they are a representative democracy with a parliament

She is well aware of what she is saying. She speaks fluent English, and in case you don’t remember, she addressed the UN Climate Change Conference. She has also met with many world leaders and said she could not think of one leader who has impressed her, and her criticism included the New Zealand prime minister who said the climate crisis is a matter of life and death. Thunberg said the same about him as Biden.

“Try educating her”?

Perhaps she should try educating herself if she wants to be a force for change

Biden and other world leader have not only praised her, but supported her positions, but her rhetoric against those world leaders who support her goals as being of the problem, are not helpful, and that is an understatement

[betsuni]

47. +1

[Magoo48]

63. She is extremely bright and knowledgeable. She brings clarity and a no bullshit message to what is

at this point a global circle jerk amongst first world “leaders”. We must have a much different definition of bright.

She is absolutely on point. No leader in the industrialized world is treating this looming catastrophe for our next generations as an emergency. The COPS are an embarrassing joke.

The only real imaginative thinking, and true acceptance of the immediacy of this chaos we all face, is among the planet’s children, third world activists, and an unheard, full throated chorus of our best scientists.

[JohnSJ]

3. Obviously Ms. Thunberg's strategy is to alienate those who could actually help make things better.

Doesn’t speak well of her intelligent

[Stuart G]

5. .... Obviously Thunberg doesn't have a "CLUE" according to Stu.

[JohnSJ]

6. It is like cutting one's nose off to spike one's face

[Stuart G]

7. Gretta proves her stupidity with that comment. Stupid is making comments about

something you.... know nothing about and ......are sure you know... Everything....about it

Stupid is still.............STUPID!!!!....

Ok here is the subject Gretta is ..'STUPID' about... U.S. Politics

[JohnSJ]

12. +++

[Magoo48]

75. If Greta is stupid, that leaves the vast majority of our world severely wanting.

[Violet_Crumble]

28. The word yr looking for is 'intelligence', not 'intelligent'.

I've never quite mastered judging someone's intelligence without ever having met them and just based on something they've said that someone else disagrees with.

Tell me how Greta is alienating those who could help to make things better? I doubt very much she's alienated Joe Biden, who gives me the impression of being a caring and thoughtful person. She definitely hasn't alienated young people around the world, y'know, the people who are inheriting the climate catastrophe that past generations have caused and ignored.

She has a global following, and her focus is on our climate crisis, not on partisan politics. Being older, I can acknowledge that she appears to be a very intelligent young woman, but she's young and there's times where I think she hasn't yet got the maturity to understand that there's a difference between what grass-roots activism and leaders of countries can achieve. Her role is to pass the sense of urgency on to world leaders, and I think she is having some effect....

[JohnSJ]

31. She is saying Biden is part of the problem, and that is a problem that she believes that

It is the same nonsense said by Nader in 2000 about Democrats, and those supposed progressives said about Hillary in 2016, that there is no difference between republicans and Democrats

Now we have a 50-50 Senate, with Manchin and Sinema. That isn’t Biden’s fault, and 2016 doesn’t look good right now if inflation doesn’t moderate

[Cobalt Violet]

43. He didn't cancel the Line 3 permits.

He didn't need the Senate, Manchin or Sinema to do that.

[JohnSJ]

48. Because you can't just stop using fossil fuels without having a replacement. Anyone who

thinks it can happen overnight is ignoring what we currently have on hand, and where we need to go.

and the argument we Wasted so many years doing nothing, where were they in 2000 and 2016 when we had a chance for real change?

[OhioTim]

77. Do You Mean The Young People..

..who aren't voting in droves?

[Magoo48]

74. Her strategy is to tell the truth.

She suggests that we follow the best science available. She points out the disparity between the timelines laid out by scientists and the greenwash jokes discussed by corporations and governments.

The world is doing next to nothing in light of what needs doing and when.

Is someone who tells the truth now an enemy of DU because our present government is as guilty of playing political games as the rest of the industrialized world and she says so?

[Kaleva]

9. Cindy Sheehan was the darling of progressives until she wasn't

[Turbineguy]

11. We did pick the better of the two candidates.

It's an improvement at least.

[NullTuples]

21. We needed an emergency brake on a runaway train.

Problem is, we're stuck now and it's getting cold and dark outside.

[sheshe2]

13. Has she heard of the GOP and Manchin that refuses BBB?

Greta, know who your friends are...and those that are your enemy.

Chose wisely.

[Violet_Crumble]

29. Hi sheshe. I'm pretty sure she would have heard of both...

I'm positive she doesn't view Joe Biden as the enemy, but she hasn't yet got the maturity and knowledge of the US political system to understand the hurdles Joe Biden faces. Me, I'd be handing out some praise for what the US govt is trying to do and organising some Extinction Rebellion protests aimed fairly and squarely at Manchin. But she's narrowly focused on the climate crisis and wants it addressed, but doesn't understand yet how to work with allies like Biden to get them across the line. Though, to be honest, with the filibuster thing and Manchin and all those hurdles, I don't think there's anything Biden can personally do to change much right now seeing as how even introducing voting rights legislation to protect democracy is a massive uphill battle

[brush]

14. Obviously she's not keeping up with American politics as she's not aware...

of the climate initiatives in Biden's BBB bill. As a climate activist, she should be.

[RockRaven]

15. Until a bill is passed by both houses of Congress and signed, it's just fanfiction.

I don't think having an idea or making a suggestion is by itself leadership, so any climate stuff in Biden's BBB isn't a sign of his leadership until it actually passes.

If he gets 50 Senators and a majority of the House to vote for it, then there is something to talk about.

[brush]

22. Oh, please. Biden has been pushing the climate initiatives for months...

as he knows they are necessary for the survival of the planet. If he says and does nothing about climate initiatives people would criticize his silence and non-leadership on the matter.

Of course he talks about it as he should and is trying to lead us towards a green/alternate energy future.

Thunberg and you are both a bit off-base with that critique.

[RockRaven]

25. And the tangible evidence of leadership is movement. Talk before action is indistinguishable

from talk without action until the action actually happens.

It's not unreasonable to withhold leadership kudos until then. Especially with the US and especially with climate.

[brush]

26. Bs. Like I said, if he wasn't talking it up he'd be criticized for doing nothing.

And what exactly is Thunberg doing but talking and showing her naivete?

And BTW, Biden also got us back in the Paris Climate agreement that trump took us out of.

Biden Signs Order Rejoining Paris Climate Agreement ...

Jan 20, 2021 · Updated 5:45pm Eastern Time. In one of his first acts in the Oval Office, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to have the United States rejoin the Paris climate agreement, the largest ...

Author: Nathan Rott

[Redleg]

24. That's like saying Abe Lincoln was a failed leader because the southern states seceeded

from the Union.

[RockRaven]

16. There hasn't been a POTUS in my lifetime who has been a leader on climate/environment issues

and I don't expect to ever see one. Such people cannot get elected in our system.

[Polybius]

34. Gore would have been

I'm still pissed about 2000.

[hunter]

67. Most people in the U.S.A. don't believe global warming is an existential threat...

... and refuse to do what needs to be done to quit fossil fuels, Republicans and Democrats alike.

For example who among us here on DU would support a politician who says he's going to end our dependence on automobiles, aggressively build new nuclear power plants, and shut down the factory farm meat and dairy industry?

It's not going to happen any time soon. The automobile and bacon cults are still strong. Wind turbines and solar panels have become a religious faith which will only prolong our dependence on natural gas.

That's why per capita carbon dioxide emissions of U.S. Americans are twice those of Western Europe or China, three times those of nuclear powered France, and eight times higher than places like India.

[Bleacher Creature]

18. Why won't Biden just snap his fingers and magically make legislation happen???

[PSPS]

19. She's thinking and using "Biden" as a metaphor for "the US" and she's right.

In fact, it IS strange to consider "the US" as a leader on a lot of things, including climate change. Of course, the primary reason for its lack of leadership is the republican party.

[JohnSJ]

33. and the primary reason for that is the Green Party in 2000, and 2016

[JI7]

44. I don't know anyone that considers the US a leader on climate change

[Redleg]

23. Greta's not stupid- just naive

about how governing works. Presidents aren't emperors ruling by decree and backed by the Praetorian Guard.

Joe Biden wanted massive spending and greater focus on the environment and the Democratic Party's BBB bill contains a hell of a lot of good stuff for the environment. He just can't force the GOP to support it, no matter what concessions he grants them.

Greta needs to realize this- she is an idealist with very little experience in realpolitik. Same goes for the rest of you yahoos out there.

[JohnSJ]

32. Probably accurate, and not recognizing that can be fatal to getting positive things done

[Karma13612]

65. Excellent take on this! Eom

[Doodley]

35. Leadership involves spelling out what the problem is and how we should try to fix it. I agree that

isn't happening.

[cab67]

62. Ms Thunberg is great at identifying the problem.

So far, not so much on the solutions.

[brush]

78. Biden got us back in the Paris Climate Agreement which idiot trump...

took us out of. He's also been talking up the many climate initiatives in the BBB bill for months.

That's leadership done from his position where he has to try to persuade and cajol a-holes like Manchin and Sinema, and sigh agreements where possible. Her's is done from an activist's position where she can speack out and meet with people.

[Gore1FL]

36. I don't think it is strange.

He'd the best we could manage to get elected. He's doing the best he can do with the best House and Senate we can get elected.

I am certainly not a Biden cheerleader, but I don't appreciate criticism on things that are beyond control.

[Cobalt Violet]

41. He could've stopped line 3 but didn't.

Like it or not she has a valid argument.

[JI7]

45. Biden isn't a Dictator. In The US the best way to go about

things is for more liberal areas to do things at local and state level .

[NurseJackie]

49. Oh, Greta. Welcome to the real world.

Greta, Greta, Greta. Dear me! Grow up, will ya, sweetie? Shit like that's not helping.

[oldsoftie]

54. Its all about getting publicity.

She's got a team for that i'm sure.

[NurseJackie]

72. I think she has an obligation to get it right and to not shit on Biden or...

... other climate allies within the Biden administration. In the highly visible position that she sought and doesn't shy-away from, she should also not shy-away from facts and reality.

Whatever respect I had for her is now greatly diminished.

[Mike Nelson]

50. I think...

... most people in the US see Biden as compared to Trump (or Palin)... we see a huge difference. Many people in other lands see the US as not changing much over the decades.

[bucolic_frolic]

51. Progressive but middle of the road course

You cannot shift big sectors of the economy overnight. We are making progress.

[oldsoftie]

53. Whats strange is that SHE is consodered a leader on climate change.

But it seems every cause needs a poster child.
Greta, Pres Biden is a "leader"; period. He also lives in the real world

[NurseJackie]

80. Indeed.

That's the perfect description, too. Thank you.

[muriel_volestrangler]

55. There aren't any major politicians who are "inspirational" on the climate, and that's what she said

It wasn't a question about whether Biden is better than the Republicans. He's not "inspirational", he's just pragmatic. She also pointed out that Sweden isn't counting its emissions properly, and criticised that.

This is a Democratic chat room. Of course it's nice for us to get warm fuzzy feelings about Democrats, but you can't expect her, being interviewed by the Washington Post, to think "I need to cheer up the American Democrats by doing a bit of PR for Biden". She says in the interview that part of her Asperger's syndrome is being blunt about things.

"You’ve quipped that if more people had autism or Asperger’s maybe we would do better in focusing on the climate crisis and not continuing to justify the trade-offs in our own minds.

Of course not to romanticize autism or say that people should have autism. Because, under the wrong circumstances, autism can be something that holds you back. But I think that there are definitely many elements of what makes you autistic that more people should have. For example, us not having as much cognitive dissonance and being able to focus on facts, it’s a good thing. And being able to focus on an emergency and actually treat it as an emergency.

It feels like many today — neurotypical people, people in general — are so focused on following the stream, doing like everyone else, because they don’t want to stand out. They don’t want to be uncomfortable. They don’t want to cause any problems. They just want to be like everyone else. And I think that’s very harmful in an emergency where we are social animals. We’re herd animals. In an emergency, someone needs to say that we’re heading towards the cliff. And everyone is just following, saying like, “Well, no one else is turning around, so I won’t either.” That could be very dangerous."

[Javaman]

68. +1 nt

[Aussie105]

56. Greta is impatient.

She wants Biden, and the US political system, to get their act together on climate change.

So do I.

In his defense Joe is a busy man, lots to do, and the US political system really doesn't help to get things done.
To put it bluntly, it's one of the most convoluted and constipated systems there is.

Sorry Greta, but there it is.
Love your fire, your vision though.
You are going to make a great leader of your country one day.
Then you will see it's not so simple.

[cab67]

57. She's quickly going from inspiring...

...to annoying. I'm sorry to say that, because I really liked her up-front message when she started out.

Part of her celebrity came from being well-spoken at such a young age. But although still young, she's essentially a young adult at this point. Her brand doesn't really work so well anymore.

She's energized a lot of young people. This is good. But she's also starting to really annoy government officials - the people who can actually do something about climate change - to the point that they're going to just ignore her. That's not so good.

Yes, a lot more should be done - but one must balance idealism with realism.

[muriel_volestrangler]

73. That's weird - you're attributing the childish "you're annoying me, so I'll ignore you" attitude

to the fully-grown adult, rather than the 18 year old. Doesn't that show that the government officials - if that is their actual feeling (which I frankly think isn't so) are the ones in the wrong?

Since when did we have to think about providing government officials with a safe space?

[JI7]

76. Most Republicans ARE in the wrong

[NurseJackie]

81. You're not alone in your feelings and observations. Thank you for saying it so concisely.

I've actually forgotten why we're "supposed to like her" because she's crossing over to becoming an irrelevant flash-in-the-pan. A "one hit wonder" if she had released a pop-hit on the radio.

[twodogsbarking]

58. Go Greta.

Biden has to play both sides of the fence. Greta does not.

[JI7]

59. Who does she consider to be a leader on Climate Change ?

[MichMan]

60. Herself

[JI7]

66. How ?

[MichMan]

69. Time

https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/yB6jpQDnC1JMnNBM1McUNg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyODA7aD04NzU-/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/IPeAMQXVoPk.ar3DhEWdww--~B/aD01MjU7dz03Njg7c209MTthcHBpZD15dGFjaHlvbg--/



https://time.com/person-of-the-year-2019-greta-thunberg/

[Crepuscular]

64. ...

As previous posters have pointed out, Greta is great at identifying threats and casting blame but has failed utterly at providing any tangible solutions. Society can't simply snap its fingers and realize the utopian world that she is calling for.

Joe has to operate in the real world, where competing factions, both within and outside of our country, dictate the rate and degree of change which can realistically be achieved. To say that Joe is not a leader in pushing for change, shows a naivete often expressed by zealots.

If Greta wants to really walk the walk, I'd encourage her to go to Beijing and start publicly condemning China and the Xi regime and calling for their overthrow, as they are the primary driving force behind the threat to our climate. Much easier to sit back in Europe and throw verbal bombs at Joe and the U.S., count me unimpressed.

[brush]

79. Points well taken.

[Spazito]

82. *LOCKING*

Host consensus is this OP doesn't meet the criteria in the SOP for this forum:

No analysis or opinion pieces.