Climate activist Greta Thunberg made a fiery return to the international stage at the COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Turkey, where she accused host nations of using the U.N.-backed conference to “whitewash” their environmental records while maintaining a destructive status quo.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the Swedish activist—who had largely avoided high-profile climate summits since 2021—did not mince words. “It’s hypocrisy every year that host countries are given an opportunity to whitewash themselves,” Thunberg said, according to NBC News. “These negotiations are filled with lobbyists paid by the very industries benefiting from our violent status quo.”
Fossil Fuel Reliance Under Fire
Thunberg took direct aim at Turkey and Australia, this year’s co-hosts, noting that despite their public embrace of renewable energy initiatives, both nations remain heavily dependent on coal and other fossil fuels. Past summit hosts, including oil-rich nations like the UAE and Brazil, have faced similar criticism from climate activists.
“Our political and economic systems have become incompatible with human nature,” Thunberg declared, warning that climate change threatens “everything and everyone we love.” She called for systemic changes to prioritize people over profits, arguing that the current model sacrifices the planet “for a fortunate few to keep making unimaginable profits.”
A Controversial Return
The appearance marks Thunberg’s first major climate summit since COP26 in Glasgow, where she famously dismissed world leaders’ pledges as “blah, blah, blah.” Her return comes amid heightened tensions at COP31, with some activists demanding more radical action—including far-left groups calling for a “socialist revolution” to address the climate crisis.
The Trump administration’s continued absence from the talks—a policy holdover from his previous presidency—has further fueled criticism that major polluters are not taking the process seriously. Meanwhile, the choice of Antalya, a luxury resort destination, as this year’s host city has drawn scrutiny over the carbon footprint of the event itself.
COP31 runs through November 20, with Ethiopia set to host next year’s summit in Addis Ababa.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/11/11/greta-thunberg-flies-in-to-cop31-climate-talks-and-blasts-u-n-hypocrisy/