Teenage Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Arrives In NYC After Sailing Across Atlantic
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) – Greta Thunberg, a teenage climate activist, arrived in Lower Manhattan today after sailing across the Atlantic.
The Swedish teen caught the world's attention after traveling across the Atlantic Ocean by boat for 15 days. She left England two weeks ago to embark on the nearly 3,000-mile voyage.
Crowds of people cheered on Thunberg as she completed her voyage into Manhattan, reports CBS2's Tom Hanson.
"It just goes to show one person can literally change the world," said activist Paloma Jourdes.
"It's so inspirational to have someone my age to look up to and be a leader," said Lily Maenza.
Young Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Arrives In NYC After Sailing Across Atlantic
The 16-year-old will attend two climate summits at the United Nations.
She refused to fly because of the gas emissions and carbon footprint, so she enlisted a crew to take a zero-emissions sailboat instead.
"Land!! The lights of Long Island and New York City ahead," she tweeted early Wednesday morning.
Along with a four-man crew that included her father, her sailboat was equipped with solar panels and hydro-generators.
The journey was delayed at one point because of rough seas. But the turbulent waves didn't stop Thunberg from spreading the message to her 1.1 million Twitter followers.
"They say they will listen to us and now is their chance to prove that they have listened," she said.
Thunberg is considered the leader of a global youth movement and credited with inspiring students to strike in about 100 cities worldwide.
While representatives from around the world will attend the September 23 climate summit at the United Nations, President Donald Trump has already hinted he will skip it.
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
