Greta Thunberg Effect: A case analysis

Climate change is one of the daunting issues faced by the world. Everyone in this world has a role to play and young people are taking actions against this phenomenon through campaigns and strikes protests, inspired by the youth climate change activist Greta Thunberg. Greta Thunberg’s simple but powerful words on how adults are not doing enough to address the climate catastrophe have reached millions of people around the world creating an impact on the student communities to start ‘Fridays for Future’ youth climate strike movements. Greta, who first learned about global warming and climate change at the age of 8 from the documentaries shown at school was more affected by it than any other student, which ultimately led her to fall into depression. Though stigmatized as ‘mentally ill’ by critics because of Asperger’s syndrome, she considered her differences as her superpower to see the climate crisis in black and white and that is reflected in her speeches which have left many politicians speechless. This paper uses a phenomenological approach and applies thematic analysis to understand the feelings and emotions experienced by Greta Thunberg inferred from selected prominent speeches of hers. Three major themes that emerge from Greta’s speeches and interviews are emotional, attitudinal, and behavioral aspects. This may provide a glimpse into how the phenomenon of climate change is affecting women in general.