Greta Thunberg jokes she is going 'net zero on swear words', following eco-protests in Glasgow during COP26

Greta Thunberg alongside fellow climate activists during a demonstration at Festival Park, Glasgow, on the first day of the Cop26 summit.
Greta Thunberg alongside fellow climate activists during a demonstration at Festival Park, Glasgow, on the first day of the Cop26 summit.
Andrew Milligan
Francesca Battaglia

By Francesca Battaglia


Published: 03/11/2021

- 14:05

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 10:58

The Swedish activist said she has reflected on her language after being filmed hyping up crowds in Glasgow

Greta Thunberg has joked she is going “net zero on swear words” after a video emerged of her joining in with a rude chant outside Cop26.

The Swedish activist said she has reflected on her language after being filmed hyping up crowds in Glasgow.


Footage published on Monday showed the 18-year-old speaking to young protesters in Festival Park in Govan, across the River Clyde from the Cop26 venue.

She said: “Change is not going to come from inside there – that is not leadership, this is leadership.

“We say no more blah blah blah, no more exploitation of people and nature and the planet. No more exploitation. No more blah blah blah. No more whatever the f*** they are doing inside there.”

Teenage activist Greta Thunberg (centre right) joins activists taking part in the Youth Strike to Defund Climate Chaos protest against the funding of fossil fuels outside Standard Chartered Bank in London.
Teenage activist Greta Thunberg (centre right) joins activists taking part in the Youth Strike to Defund Climate Chaos protest against the funding of fossil fuels outside Standard Chartered Bank in London.
Victoria Jones

Later on, she was filmed singing: “You can shove your climate crisis up your arse”.

The teenager has since joked she is now going to continue “net zero” on her language.

She tweeted: “I am pleased to announce that I’ve decided to go net zero on swear words and bad language.

“In the event that I should say something inappropriate I pledge to compensate that by saying something nice.”

In September, she mocked Prime Minister Boris Johnson by quoting parts of his speeches on climate change and adding “blah, blah, blah”.

During her time outside the summit this week, Ms Thunberg has accused politicians of not taking the climate crisis seriously.

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