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Activist Greta Thunberg has claimed Trump’s inaction is fuelling the flames. She launched a scathing attack on Donald Trump’s stance over the climate crisis. The President bragged about the U.S economy while speaking to world leaders and industrialists. He also attacked climate activists as “perennial prophets of doom”. On the same day, the 17-year-old Swedish teen said Trump’s vow to plant more trees was sorely inadequate to address the situation. Thunberg delivered her words at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. She said, “Unlike you, my generation will not give up without a fight. Our house is still on fire. Your inaction is fuelling the flames”.

Trump attacked Thunberg and other activists who have repeatedly urged world leaders to address the environmental crisis. Activists say our environment is rapidly reaching the point where it will soon become too late to act. Trump repeated his claim in a subsequent newspaper interview that the teenager was Angry. He said, “This is not a time for pessimism. This is a time for optimism. Fear and doubt are not a good thought process because this is a time for tremendous hope and joy and optimism and action. To embrace the possibilities of tomorrow, we must reject the perennial prophets of doom and their predictions of the apocalypse”.

Thunberg responded and said, “Planting trees is good, of course, but it’s nowhere near enough. It cannot replace mitigation. You say children shouldn’t worry, don’t be so pessimistic and then, nothing, silence”. She said she was referring to empty words and promises by world leaders. It is noteworthy that Trump swiftly moved to withdraw the U.S from the Paris climate accord when he was elected the U.S President. Trump said Washington was signing an agreement to plant more trees. Thunberg responded and said, “We need to start listening to the science and treat this crisis with the importance it deserves. Without treating it as a real crisis we cannot solve it”.