Teenage environmental activist, Greta Thunberg, arived in Madrid this morning after a 10-hour trip from Lisbon, and will lead this evening's protest calling for action on global warming.
Honouring her self-imposed ban on air travel because of its carbon emission, the Swedish 16-year-old traveled by train from the Portguese capital after turning down numberous alternative transport offers including electric cars and even a donkey.
When she arrived at Atocha Station, dozens of journalists were waiting at the platform, along with supporters and parents with children. She arrived carrying her famous sign with the message: “Skolstrejk för Klimatet,” - “school strike for the climate.” Two red electric taxis were waiting for her at the station.
Thunberg will attend a news conference at the cultural centre La Casa Encendida at 4.30pm, together with members of the Fridays for the Future movement and Youth for the Climate. She will then take part in the climate march starting at 6pm in Atocha and ending at Nuevos Ministerios in Chamberí, where Spanish actor Javier Bardem and pop bands Amaral and Macaco are due to make an appearance. The march, called under the slogan “world is waking up to the climate crisis,” has the support of 850 social and environmental organisations.
The young climate activist has already made a quick, surprise visit to the Ifema conference centre, where the COP25 climate summit is being held. The visit, described by her press team as a ”spontaneous decision” caused a brief media circus at the venue, with participants clamouring for photos with her.
