MALIZIA ZERO CARBON YACHT ATLANTIC SAILOR GRETA THUNBERG'S CROSSING TO NEW YORK AUGUST 2019

ZERO CARBON ATLANTIC SAILOR

16 YEAR OLD GRETA THUNBERG CROSSES THE ALTLANTIC OCEAN IN ZERO CARBON YACHT MALIZIA

.....

BBC NEWS 29 AUGUST 2019

Greta Thunberg, climate change activist, sails into New York City

Teenage environmental activist Greta Thunberg has arrived in New York after a 15-day, 3,000-mile (4,800km) voyage across the Atlantic.

She will be participating in UN climate summits in New York City and Chile.

The 16-year-old Swede sailed from Plymouth in the UK on a zero-emissions yacht in order to minimise the carbon footprint of her travel.

"Our war on nature must end," she told reporters shortly after arriving on Wednesday.

"I want to thank everyone... who is involved in this climate fight, because this is a fight across borders, across continents," she said.

When asked about the fires that have ravaged the Amazon rainforest in recent weeks, she said they were a "clear sign we need to stop destroying nature".

She will be participating in UN climate summits in New York City and Chile.

The 16-year-old Swede sailed from Plymouth in the UK on a zero-emissions yacht in order to minimise the carbon footprint of her travel.

"Our war on nature must end," she told reporters shortly after arriving on Wednesday.

"I want to thank everyone... who is involved in this climate fight, because this is a fight across borders, across continents," she said.

When asked about the fires that have ravaged the Amazon rainforest in recent weeks, she said they were a "clear sign we need to stop destroying nature".

Ms Thunberg was expected to arrive sooner, but rough seas slowed her progress. She has been documenting the voyage on social media.

As she departed the UK two weeks ago, she told the BBC that travelling by boat sends a signal that "the climate change crisis is a real thing".

When asked if she could make US President Donald Trump listen she answered with a simple "no".

"I'm not that special. I can't convince everyone," she said. "I'm just going to do what I want to do and what will have most impact."

On arrival in New York she had another message for Mr Trump: "My message for him is listen to the science and he obviously doesn't do that."

She will be present at the UN climate summit on 23 September and the COP25 climate conference in Chile in December.

The teenager has made headlines for her "school strikes" which have inspired a worldwide climate change protest movement.

Her first "strike for climate" took place outside the Swedish parliament in August last year.

Ms Thunberg travelled on the Malizia II, a high-speed, 60ft (18m) racing yacht with underwater turbines and no carbon emissions.

She made the journey with her father Svante, captain Boris Herrmann, Monaco royal family member Pierre Casiraghi and a Swedish documentary maker, Nathan Grossman.

Her boat had no shower or toilet, according to Reuters, and the sailing party ate freeze-dried food.

The teenager was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize earlier this year.

Ms Thunberg has been diagnosed with Asperger's, a form of autism, which she told the BBC allowed her to "see things from outside the box".

"If I would've been like everyone else, I wouldn't have started this school strike for instance," she said.

CBS NEWS AUGUST 28, 2019 - Activist Greta Thunberg reaches New York after sailing across the Atlantic

Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg arrived in New York City on Wednesday after traveling across the Atlantic Ocean in a zero-emission yacht. She is attending several events in the city next month, including the U.N. General Assembly, U.N. Youth Summit on Climate and the Climate Action Summit.

She stepped foot on land just after 4 p.m. and the 16-year-old then addressed reporters. She said "everyone always asks about Donald Trump — 'Listen to the science' and he obviously does not do that. If no one has been able to convince him about the climate crisis and the urgency, why would I be able to?"

Thunberg, looking slightly embarrassed, said "all of this is very overwhelming" of the crowd who welcomed her to Manhattan. Though she encountered some rough seas, she said her trip across the Atlantic wasn't as uncomfortable as she expected, according to The Associated Press. Thunberg mentioned that she didn't get seasick once, but said "this is not something I want everyone to do.

"It is insane that a 16-year-old would have to cross the Atlantic Ocean to make a stand," she said. "The climate and ecological crisis is a global crisis, the biggest crisis that humanity has ever faced, and if we don't manage to work together and to cooperate and to work together despite our differences, then we will fail."

Thunberg, used the boat to raise awareness to the greenhouse gases emitted by the use of commercial airplanes. She tweeted that her vessel, named Malizia II, was anchored off Coney Island on Wednesday morning and that they were "clearing immigration and customs."

As Thunberg arrived in New York, she took time to tweet some images:

"It is insane that a 16-year-old would have to cross the Atlantic Ocean to make a stand," she said. "The climate and ecological crisis is a global crisis, the biggest crisis that humanity has ever faced, and if we don't manage to work together and to cooperate and to work together despite our differences, then we will fail."

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, 16, speaks to the press on August 28, 2019, in New York. Getty

Thunberg, used the boat to raise awareness to the greenhouse gases emitted by the use of commercial airplanes. She tweeted that her vessel, named Malizia II, was anchored off Coney Island on Wednesday morning and that they were "clearing immigration and customs."

As Thunberg arrived in New York, she took time to tweet some images:

Manhattan! pic.twitter.com/8SxPYk2WRk
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) August 28, 2019

The United Nations welcomed Thunberg with a flotilla of 17 sailboats — each branded with an icon from its Sustainable Development Goals.

Thunberg's yacht had no kitchen, no heating, no fridge and no bathroom. The vessel generated electricity through solar panels and wind turbines. Thunberg documented parts of her journey on Twitter, where she included videos of the high seas, photos of herself and the crew, and short commentaries about climate change.

On Day Four, she described conditions on Malizia II "like camping on a roller coaster." Some of her videos even demonstrated the difficult conditions her crew experienced while on the journey.

Thunberg recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of the start of her climate change movement. Last August, she began striking alone outside the Swedish parliament, and soon, students around the world began walking out of school, demanding action from their governments. She's been called "the voice of the planet," and has even been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

While she's here in the U.S., Greta will participate in two global climate strikes in addition to attending the U.N.'s Youth Summit on Climate on September 21 and Climate Action Summit on September 23. It's unclear how she plans to eventually travel back home. By Brian Pascus

THE GUARDIAN 28 AUGUST 2019 - Let's do it now': Greta Thunberg crosses Atlantic and calls for urgent climate action

Greta Thunberg arrived in New York on Wednesday, stepping on to dry land after crossing the Atlantic in a zero-carbon yacht with a passionate message to tackle global heating.

Crowds had gathered to welcome her for hours beforehand, ready to welcome Thunberg’s arrival on the unconventional solar-powered craft.

Under cloudy skies at a marina near the southern tip of Manhattan, Thunberg’s supporters greeted the teenager who sparked a series of walkouts by students protesting against the lack of action to address the climate crisis.

At a press conference, Thunberg urged people to come together to tackle the climate crisis. “We need to stand together and take action because otherwise it might be too late.”

To cheers from the crowd, she said: “Let’s not wait any longer. Let’s do it now.”

She added: “It is insane that a 16-year-old would have to cross the Atlantic to take a stand … [against] the climate and ecological crisis is a global crisis and the biggest humanity has ever faced.”

She also took a swipe at the US president, Donald Trump, a longstanding denier of the climate crisis. When asked if she had a message for Trump, she said: “I say, ‘Listen to the science’. And he obviously does not do that. If no one has been able to convince him about the climate crisis and the urgency, why would I be able to?”

Thunberg docked at North Cove Marina on the edge of New York Harbor. The Marina is full of enormous yachts and sits right next to the Brookfield mall – a large glass dome filled with shoppers – which made for an opulent setting for the arrival of the climate change activist.

Her vessel had been welcomed by a flotilla of 17 sailing boats, each with one of the 17 sustainable development goals written on their sails. The special welcome convoy will intercept Thunberg’s yacht near the Statue of Liberty off the top of New York City.

Thunberg sailed to New York to attend a UN summit on zero emissions next month after refusing to fly there because of the carbon emissions caused by planes.

She was offered a ride on the Malizia II racing yacht skippered by Pierre Casiraghi, the son of Princess Caroline of Monaco, and the German round-the-world sailor Boris Herrmann.

The 16-year-old, whose school strikes have inspired children across the world to protest against the climate crisis, encountered some rough seas on her passage across the Atlantic and arrived later than expected.

As Thunberg’s yacht rounded the Statue of Liberty, it was met by a flotilla of 17 support boats, each with its sail printed with a message spelling out a recommended sustainable development goal, as promoted by the United Nations. These included combating discrimination and promoting peace, as well as using less plastic, not wasting food or water, using public transportation and vaccinating children against diseases

As Thunberg finally approached the harbor in New York, the crowds swelled.

“I’ve been following her for the past year or so and am very enthusiastic about what she’s doing, how she’s got young people involved with the striking,” said Richard Walser, an IT technician who traveled down from Connecticut to welcome Thunberg with his son, CJ.

Student Xiye Bastida, 17, said she was inspired by Thunberg’s activism to organize her own climate strike, involving 600 fellow students at her New York school.

“She has a moral aspect to her message, that our generation will suffer the most. I hope she will raise the consciousness of climate change in the US – help wake people up,” she said.

Bastida’s mobile phone carried a sticker saying “Greta has a posse”.

One woman arrived at the marina clutching flowers and a placard that read “Welcome Greta”. The media was also out in force, including journalists from Chile, where world leaders will gather later this year for annual UN climate talks.

Others, however, were nonplussed. One passerby asked if Thunberg was a solo round-the-world yachtswoman.

SECRETARY GENERAL - António Guterres and Greta Thunberg at the COP 24 conference of the parties on climate change. Miss Thunberg, who is only 15 years old, is one of the new and powerful voices of the young that are demanding climate change action, rather than the gradual creep that will lead us to disaster. Greta helped to organise the Skolsrtejk Klimatet school strike that forced her elders to sit up and pay attention. We're listening now Greta, so tell us how you think we should proceed.

Thunberg is set to travel to Chile for this event, although as yet it’s unclear how she will return home to Sweden given her aversion to flying due to its heavy fossil fuel use.

Thunberg’s yacht left the British port of Plymouth on 14 August, and the teenager marked the first anniversary of the start of her school strike on 20 August.

Greta began a sit-down protest outside the Swedish parliament in August 2018 to get members of parliament to act on climate change.

She was quickly joined by other students around the world, as word of her strike spread through the media, and the “Fridays for future” movement was born.

The 18-metre yacht features solar panels on its deck and sides, and two hydro-generators provide the vessel’s electricity.

Her voyage sparked controversy, however, after a spokesman for Herrmann, the yacht’s co-skipper, told the Berlin newspaper TAZ that several people would fly into New York to take the yacht back to Europe.

Herrmann will also return by plane, according to the spokesman.

Team Malizia’s manager insisted, however, that the young activist’s journey would be carbon neutral, as the flights would be offset.

Greta has said she does not yet know how she will return to Europe. By Oliver Milman in New York

THE INDEPENDENT 28 AUGUST 2019

Greta Thunberg arrives in New York after 15 days at sea: 'This is a fight across waters and distance'

Ms Thunberg arrived on a cloudy day, with hundreds of supporters waiting to greet the Swedish activist

After 15 days at sea, 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg has arrived at a pier in New York City’s lower Manhattan, as she continues her quest to raise awareness about climate change — and fight for a zero carbon future.

Hours after she first spotted the glimmering lights of Long Island at night, Ms Thunberg’s supporters flocked to North Cove Marina on New York Harbour. Then, with its massive black sail, the yacht could be seen in the distance beside the Statue of Liberty on the cloudy day, making its slow approach to Manhattan.

The Swedish teenager’s voyage to the United States from Britain on a zero-carbon yacht has focused the world’s attention on the urgent issue of climate change, as she is set to attend the United Nations summit on zero emissions next month. From a modest protest in front of the Swedish parliament, she will now be invited to speak among international dignitaries.

“My message to all the activists is to just keep going, and I know it really may seem impossible and hopeless sometimes — it always does — so you just have to keep going because if you try hard enough and long enough you will make a difference,” Ms Thunberg told the crowd in New York. “And, if enough people stand together and fight for the right thing anything can happen.”

Her trip — undertaken on the Malizia II racing yacht skippered by Pierre Casiraghi, the son of Princess Caroline of Monaco, and German round-the-world sailor Boris Herrmann — came after Ms Thunberg drew national attention for her school strikes, sparking similar protests by children across the globe.

“This is a fight across the waters, and across distance,” Ms Thunberg said, reflecting on the just-finished voyage, before adding she believed it “is insane that a 16-year-old would have to cross the Atlantic Ocean to make a stand”.

When Ms Thunberg’s yacht docked on Wednesday, helped along by dinghies that had guided her from the Hudson, she was greeted with a chorus of “Welcome Greta, welcome Greta, to New York”, sung to the tune of Frere Jaques by many of the teenage activists who had come to welcome her.

“I wanted to inspire Greta, and also I want to be able to fight for the climate and bring climate justice,” one of those supporters, 15-year-old Paloma Jourdes, told The Independent. “It’s important that the youth is here because we’re the next generation that are going to be able to change certain policies.... And vote for leaders who actually make changes.”

Ms Thunberg is set to attend events at the United Nations just miles away in Manhattan during her stay in America, including a strike outside of those offices led by high school students just like those who came to greet her. The UN will conduct its climate summit in September.

She is expected to travel to Chile later this year, too, where world leaders are scheduled to meet for annual United Nations climate talks.

Ms Thunberg first drew international attention for starting a sit-down protest outside of the Swedish parliament just one year ago, demanding action on climate change.

Her initial sit-down protest in August of last year quickly drew the support of fellow students internationally, as the efforts were reported on in the media and the “Fridays for future” movement was created.

Ms Thunberg’s trip across the Atlantic on the 18-metre yacht that landed in Manhattan started in the British port city of Plymouth 14 August, where fans waved her off.

The voyage encountered some rough waters along the way, delaying her plans some, even as she and the crew posted photos and tweets along the way.

The issues facing Ms Thunberg included criticism after a spokesman for the boat-s co-skipper told Berlin newspaper TAZ that people would be flying to New York to take the yacht to Europe — even though the solar panel laden yacht was chosen as a form of travel in order to avoid carbon emissions from plane travel.

When the boat arrived in New York harbour on Wednesday, just as it was passing the Statue of Liberty, it was welcomed by a flotilla of 17 sailing boats, each with a sustainable development goal written onto their sails.

Ms Thunberg has not said when she might return to Europe.

But, for now, she said she is going to take it slow after what has been a remarkably fast journey to international fame since she first began her protest one year ago.

“Right now I’m going to first finish this press conference and then go back to the boat and get my stuff and then I’m going to rest,” she said. By Clark Mindock