The first time I saw Greta’s photo was on the company printer, which at least showed that her image in China is not always negative – it can still be used when needed.
During my college years, I interned at a foundation funded by the owner of a famous real estate company in China that focused on environmental and sustainability research. I was shocked when I talked to the director of the foundation, who told me that “global warming” is a lie made up by developed countries to oppress developing countries.
I don’t know if it’s because I’m in Sweden, but lately I’ve been getting articles about Europe starting to demonize Greta, but they’re not true and they’re very inflammatory. Compared to a decade or so ago, the cynicism towards those who are active in public affairs has not diminished, but has become more and more uncontrollable with the help of the Internet.
Recently, the PSG manager was widely criticized by French society for a joke he made in response to a reporter’s question about whether the team could choose a greener way to travel (with Mbappe laughing on the table next to him). Conversely, Chinese fans’ comments on the news were overwhelmingly directed at the questioner, with one comment saying the journalist was an “environmental girl” garnering nearly a thousand likes.
Europe’s geopolitical influence on climate and energy policy is a necessary rethink, not a wholesale rejection of past values. On the contrary, a society that rejects all morality and dissolves all values is more worrying.