Teen environmental activist Greta Thunberg has explained how the “gift” of living with Asperger syndrome has inspired her climate change activism.
In an interview with the BBC, the 16-year-old who is nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her work promoting climate change awareness says her Asperger's helped her see "out of the box".
“It makes me different, and being different is a gift, I would say,” she told BBC, according to
“It also makes me see things from outside the box. I don’t easily fall for lies, I can see through things.”
Thunberg said if she had “been like everyone else” she wouldn’t have started a school strike movement last year, that was echoed across the globe by teens protesting inaction on climate change.
“I don’t think I would be interested in the climate at all, if I had been like everyone else,” she continued.
The Swedish teen was greeted with applause after pointedly critiquing world leaders in a recent protest.
“For way too long the politicians and people in power have got away with not doing anything at all to fight the climate crisis and ecological crisis,” she told in London.
“But we will make sure that they will not get away with it any longer.”
Thunberg's candour has been lauded online.
"What an amazing young woman - composed, intelligent, erudite," commented on Twitter user.
"To stand in front of everyone and be so bold is a massive achievement and makes her a legend for that alone."
