On Monday, September 23rd, 2019, sixteen-year-old Greta Thunberg joined the United Nations General Assembly Climate Action Summit to demand real action from our current world leaders regarding the climate crisis.

If the name Greta Thunberg sounds a little familiar to you, that's because she's kind of a big deal. Even though Greta is only sixteen, she is arguably the biggest climate and environmental activist this generation has seen. She started off by organizing a school strike every Friday to raise awareness on the climate issue. This eventually grew into the global climate strike and Friday's for Future.

Greta Thunberg isn't afraid to make her voice heard, and she encourages others to raise their voices as well. She has spoken in front of the US Congress and the French Parliament. This past Monday, however, she delivered her speech titled "How Dare You" at the UNGA Climate Action Summit.

If you haven't read or listened to this speech yet, I suggest you take the time to check it out when you have the chance. It can be found with a quick Google search or on Greta's Instagram page.

"We are at the beginning of mass extinction and all you can talk about is the money and fairytales of eternal economic growth. How dare you?" -Greta Thunberg

Personally, I was surprised Greta's speech didn't knock the entire audience out of their seats. She wasn't afraid to be blunt with her audience or to lay out facts and statistics. Greta also has a certain way of putting emotion behind her words to get her point across.

According to Greta, our remaining CO2 budget will be gone within eight and a half years. However, this isn't the part of her speech that grabbed my attention. As Greta said herself, the science has been clear for over thirty years. What stuck out to me was her call to the younger generations.

"You are failing us, but the young people are starting to understand your betrayal. The eyes of all future generations are upon you." -Greta Thunberg

In theory, if the younger generations continue to speak up in defense of their future, then those in positions of power will feel more inclined to take action. So, in response to Greta Thunberg's speech "How Dare You," I say it's time for this generation to take a note from Greta and make themselves heard.

"The world is waking up and change is coming, whether you like it or not." -Greta Thunberg