Greta Thunberg has said it is “reasonable” to expect climate protesters to cause disruption.
The 19-year-old activist gained recognition at the age of 15 when she began spending her Fridays sitting outside the Swedish parliament building, calling for more serious action on climate change.
She defended the actions of groups such as Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion, who have blocked roads and vandalised paintings, while at an event to launch her new book at the South Bank in central London on Sunday.
Asked if it matters if the two groups upset people, Ms Thunberg said: “There are such a variety of different actions, so I can’t really generalise.
“We are right now in a very desperate position, many people are becoming desperate and are trying to find new methods because we have realised that what we have been doing up until now has not done the trick.
“It’s only reasonable to expect these kinds of different actions and trying out different methods.
“Upsetting anyone depends on how you define upsetting anyone, harming people is one thing and making people annoyed is a different thing.
The activist hit out at Cop27, calling the event a 'scam'.
Jane Barlow
“I think if groups in countries like the UK and Sweden get the media attention, I think it is very important to focus on the crisis that is happening.”
It comes amid a month-long campaign of direct action from Just Stop Oil, which has blocked roads in various locations, sparking angry responses from members of the public.
Protesters are demanding that the Government halts all new oil and gas licences and consents.
Climate activists have caused disruption in many parts of the UK.
Lucas Cumiskey
Ms Thunberg also called the forthcoming Cop27 climate summit in Egypt, which she will not be attending, a “scam”.
She criticised leaders amid earlier reports that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the King were not attending.
The activist said: “It’s very symbolic that it’s being held in a tourist paradise in a country that violates many basic human rights.
“Many world leaders are too busy to go there because they have their own problems.
“With that mindset we’re not going to be able to solve many of the problems that we face.”
The Climate Book is a collection of more than 100 contributions from figures such as economist Kate Raworth, writer and activist Naomi Klein and author Margaret Atwood.
Ms Thunberg‘s speech was live streamed free around the world.