The Courageous Journey Of Teenage Sailor Greta (2024)

In 2019, 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg sailed across the Atlantic Ocean twice, refusing to fly due to the carbon emissions of the airline industry. Thunberg sailed from the UK to the US to attend the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York, and then from the US to Europe to attend the COP25 climate change conference in Madrid, Spain. Thunberg's determination to avoid air travel due to its environmental impact has inspired a global movement and raised awareness about the risks posed by climate change.

Greta Thunberg's 2019 voyage from the UK to the US

In 2019, climate activist Greta Thunberg made a double crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, sailing from the UK to the US and back. Thunberg refuses to fly because of the carbon emissions of air travel, so she opted to make the journey by boat.

UK to US

Thunberg set sail from Plymouth, UK, on 14 August 2019, and arrived in New York City two weeks later on 28 August. She travelled on the racing yacht Malizia II, a 60-foot vessel designed to be emission-free, with solar panels, hydro-generators, and an onboard lab for measuring CO2 levels. The boat was built for speed, not comfort, and lacked many amenities, including cooking facilities, a toilet, and a shower. Thunberg was joined on the voyage by her father, Svante Thunberg, co-skippers Pierre Casiraghi and professional sailor Boris Herrmann, and a Swedish documentary maker, Nathan Grossman.

During the journey, Thunberg documented her experience on social media, posting about rough seas and sharing her excitement about encountering dolphins and seeing the stars of the Milky Way. She arrived in New York to a crowd of supporters, including fellow high school students, and gave a short speech about the need for quick action to address climate change. She also planned to attend the United Nations Climate Action Summit in September and the COP25 climate change conference in Chile in December.

US to UK

After spending a few months in the US, Thunberg needed to return to Europe when the COP25 climate conference was moved from Santiago, Chile, to Madrid, Spain, due to unrest in Chile. She put out a request on Twitter for a ride across the Atlantic and was offered a spot on the 48-foot catamaran La Vagabonde by an Australian couple, Riley Whitelum and Elayna Carausu, who were sailing around the world. Assisted by professional yacht skipper Nikki Henderson, Thunberg and her father set sail from Hampton, Virginia, on 13 November 2019 and arrived in Lisbon, Portugal, on 3 December. La Vagabonde was equipped with solar panels and hydro-generators, resulting in a minimal carbon footprint. Thunberg's voyage from the US to Europe took two to four weeks, and she then travelled on to Madrid to speak at the COP25 conference.

Greta Thunberg's return voyage from the US to Europe

In 2019, 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg embarked on a return voyage from the US to Europe, specifically Lisbon, Portugal, after attending climate conferences in North America. Thunberg refuses to fly because of the airline industry's carbon emissions and the significant contribution of air travel to global warming.

Thunberg's return voyage to Europe was announced as carbon neutral. She travelled on the 48-foot catamaran La Vagabonde, which is outfitted with solar panels and hydro-generators, resulting in a minimal carbon footprint. The catamaran is owned by an Australian couple, Riley Whitelum and Elayna Carausu, who had been sailing around the world. They were assisted by professional yacht skipper Nikki Henderson. Thunberg was joined on the voyage by her father, Svante Thunberg.

Thunberg's voyage lasted three weeks, and she arrived in Lisbon on 3 December 2019. She then travelled to Madrid, Spain, to attend the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP25). Thunberg's journey contrasted with the air travel of most of the conference's 25,000 attendees. She stated that she wanted to demonstrate the importance of reducing emissions and that it should be easier to live sustainably.

Thunberg's return voyage to Europe was part of a larger movement she has inspired, known as "Flygskam" or "flight shame," which encourages people to avoid air travel due to its environmental impact. This movement has gained significant momentum, particularly in Sweden, where there has been a reported increase in rail travel and a decrease in domestic air travel.

Greta Thunberg's reasons for sailing instead of flying

Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old Swedish climate activist, refuses to fly due to the carbon emissions of the airline industry. Thunberg has helped to spread the concept of "flygskam" in Sweden, which translates to "flight shame". This concept has reportedly encouraged Swedes to avoid travelling by plane. Thunberg's avoidance of air travel is part of her commitment to reducing her own carbon footprint.

Thunberg chose to sail across the Atlantic Ocean to attend the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York in 2019. She travelled on the racing yacht Malizia II, which is designed to be emission-free and is equipped with solar panels and hydro-generators. She also sailed back to Europe from the United States on the catamaran La Vagabonde, which was outfitted with solar panels and hydro-generators.

Thunberg's decision to sail instead of fly is intended to emphasise the need to reduce carbon emissions and to inspire people to take action to protect the planet. Thunberg has stated that she does not expect everyone to follow her example and cross the Atlantic by boat, but she believes that people need to come together to fight climate change.

Thunberg's choice to sail across the Atlantic drew attention in the media, with some critics arguing that her method of travel was not a feasible option for most people in terms of time and cost. However, her decision to avoid flying due to its environmental impact has been supported by climate scientists and activists.

The boat Greta Thunberg sailed on from the US

The boat that Greta Thunberg sailed on from the US back to Europe was the catamaran La Vagabonde. Thunberg had put out a request on Twitter for a ride back across the Atlantic when the next round of climate talks were moved from Chile to Europe. Australian YouTuber Riley Whitelum, who, along with his partner Elayna Carausu, had been sailing around the world, offered her a ride. The boat was also skippered by professional yacht skipper Nikki Henderson. La Vagabonde is outfitted with solar panels and hydro-generators, so it has a minimal carbon footprint.

Thunberg's voyage from the US took place in November 2019, two and a half months after she arrived in New York Harbour. She had originally sailed to the US from Plymouth, UK, on the racing yacht Malizia II. The 16-year-old Swedish activist chose sailing over flying to attend a United Nations climate summit, to emphasise the need to reduce carbon emissions.

The Malizia II is a 60-foot vessel designed to be emission-free. It is equipped with solar panels, hydro-generators, and an onboard lab for measuring CO2 levels and other information about the surface of the ocean. The yacht was built for speed rather than luxury, and conditions range from basic to difficult. The boat lacks many amenities, including cooking facilities, a toilet, and a shower. However, comfortable mattresses were added for Thunberg's voyage.

Thunberg sailed with a small group, including her father, Svante Thunberg, and co-skippers Pierre Casiraghi, grandson of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and Grace Kelly, and professional sailor Boris Herrmann. After a two-week journey, Thunberg arrived in New York on 28 August 2019, where she was greeted by a crowd of supporters, including fellow high school students.

Greta Thunberg's message to Americans

In 2019, 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg sailed to New York from the UK aboard the racing yacht Malizia II, a zero-carbon yacht, to attend the United Nations Climate Action Summit. Thunberg chose sailing over flying to emphasize the need to reduce carbon emissions.

Thunberg's message to Americans has been consistent: she urges people to unite behind the science and act on the climate crisis. She emphasizes the importance of coming together to fight climate change and putting pressure on those in power to take action. Thunberg also encourages Americans to vote, recognizing the country's crucial role in addressing climate change.

Thunberg has inspired young people worldwide to join the fight for climate action, promoting school strikes and protests to raise awareness. She has faced criticism and hostility, particularly from supporters of the fossil fuel industry, but remains steadfast in her message.

After her time in the US, Thunberg sailed back to Europe from Hampton, Virginia, to Lisbon, Portugal, aboard the catamaran La Vagabonde. She made this journey as the climate conference she planned to attend in Chile was moved to Spain. Thunberg's dedication to reducing her carbon footprint and spreading her message is evident in her choice to cross the Atlantic by boat twice in one year.

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