Greta Thunberg is one of our personal heroes. How can we all but admire her efforts to bring climate change issues to the foreground and put pressure on world leaders and governments? That is exactly what she intends to do on the next UN Climate Action Summit on the 23rd of September in New York. And to be consistent with her fight for a cleaner environment, she did not cross the ocean on a plane, but on a Sailing Boat.
The crew of the Malizia II, a high-tech Yacht capable of also generating energy through solar panels and underwater turbines, has offered to transport Greta across the Atlantic that was estimated to take around two weeks. As winds were favourable, they made it in 14 days. They departed from Plymouth - UK on the 14th of August and arrived in New York yesterday, the 28th. From here Greta will later travel through other means of low-carbon transportation, to the Climate Change Conference in Santiago, Chile, in December.
On a Facebook post announcing her trip she reminded us of the urgency of acts like these:
“The science is clear. We must start bending the emissions curve steeply downwards no later than 2020, if we still are to have a chance of staying below a 1,5 degrees of global temperature rise. We still have a window of time when things are in our own hands. But that window is closing fast. That is why I have decided to make this trip now. During the past year, millions of young people have raised their voice to make world leaders wake up to the climate and ecological crisis. Over the next months, the events in New York and Santiago de Chile will show if they have listened. Together with many other young people across the Americas and the world, I will be there, even if the journey will be long and challenging. We will make our voices heard. It is our future on the line, and we must at least have a say in it. The science is clear and all we children are doing is communicating and acting on that united science. And our demand is for the world to unite behind the science.”
And she is so right, the time to act, change habits and find new ways of living in harmony with the planet is now. Lets all try and do our part.
For now we salute all the crew for their amazing trip and safe arrival, and Greta in particular on her incredible work, courage and commitment on protecting our future. Wishing her all the luck for the coming challenges!
Interested to list or book a sustainable boat? Please visit: www.weareonaboat.com