While Americans’ observed the 18th anniversary of 9/11 last Wednesday with honor and reflection, Trevor Noah on The Daily Show thought it wise to pontificate on the issue of climate change with 16-year-old “climate activist” Greta Thunberg.
As to be expected, Noah’s slobbering interview commenced with heaping praise upon Thunberg for her “courageous” sail boat journey from Britain to New York:
And welcome to New York City. You came here on a zero emissions boat…Wow. I mean, I know I wouldn't do that as a kid. And I wouldn't do it now. But what is inspiring is your determination. And what's inspiring is that it doesn't just affect other young people. It's started to affect older generations in Sweden, in Germany. People are starting to call it the "Greta Effect", where people are taking more trains. Since you've started this movement, they've said they feel ashamed to fly unnecessarily in Europe.
Noah must have felt as though he was in the presence of a reputable scientist as he asked with great concern: “What do you think people need to learn about climate change? Many people have heard of the climate warming up. Some people have a small understanding of what it means. But what do you think is lacking in the understanding of this issue?”
Thunberg who as of late has been hailed a “hero” by the left-wing media, answered by giving her insight on the fate of the planet:
I think pretty much everything. Because, I mean, we know that something is wrong, that the planet is warming because of increased greenhouse gas emissions, and that might lead to that the ice caps will melt, and the global temperature will rise, and there will be more extreme weather events, and so on. But they- they don't understand how severe this crisis actually is.
No one in the audience seemed to bat an eyelash to the audacious queries Noah was posing, including; “What do you think people could do and what do you think governments should be doing?”
To close out the evening, Noah judged the night a fine time to ask about the differences concerning the approach to climate change from Sweden and the U.S. “Do you -- do you feel a difference in the conversation traveling from Sweden to America? Is there a different feeling around climate change?”
Between the New York Times granting the aircraft used on 9/11 supernatural powers suggesting they flew themselves into the twin towers and Noah’s climate crusade, it makes one wonder if the very journalists who hashtag "never forget" are the ones who need that reminder the most.
For more examples of fawning over Greta Thunberg, go here.
Transcript below:
The Daily Show With Trevor Noah
9/11/19
11:24:47 PM
TREVOR NOAH: Welcome to The Daily Show.
GRETA THUNBERG: Thank you very much.
NOAH: And welcome to New York City. You came here on a zero emissions boat. And part of me thinks that's because you love the climate. The other part of me wonders if that's just your Viking heritage.
THUNDER: Maybe it is.
NOAH: It might be?
THUNBERG: Yeah.
NOAH: Tell me why you did that. Why didn't you fly to New York City to come and, you know, speak at the U.N.? And you know, inspire people to move forward in the climate change movement?
THUNBERG: I did it because I have, since a few years, stopped flying because of the enormous impact aviation has on the climate individually. And just to make a stand. And I am one of the very few people in the world who can actually do such a trip. So I thought, why not?
NOAH: Wow. I mean, I know I wouldn't do that as a kid. And I wouldn't do it now. But what is inspiring is your determination. And what's inspiring is that it doesn't just affect other young people. It's started to affect older generations in Sweden, in Germany. People are starting to call it the "Greta Effect", where people are taking more trains. Since you've started this movement, they've said they feel ashamed to fly unnecessarily in Europe. Your mom is an opera singer and she stopped flying, which means she couldn't perform the way she used to. Do you sometimes feel bad that she can't perform or are you more excited that she's not part of, I guess, polluting the planet?
THUNBERG: I don't care, honestly, about how she performs. She's-she's doing musicals now, so I mean, she had to change career, but it wasn't that big.
NOAH: And the planet is the most important thing for you.
THUNBERG: Yeah. I mean, for all of us, I think it should be.
NOAH: Why do you think-why do you think young people are so focused on climate change now? There's a definite disconnect between older generations and younger generations when talking about the climate. Why do you think that is?
THUNBERG: I mean, I think it is because we, in a way, feel like it is more a direct threat. Others feel like, "I won't be alive then, anyway, so screw it." But we- we actually know that these consequences will face us during our lifetime. And it is already happening now. And it will get worse. And so I think that is why so many young people, especially, care about this. And of course, the awareness is not as it needs to be. People are still very unaware, is my experience. And so we need to continue. But you can see that among young people, the concern is bigger.
NOAH: What do you think people need to learn about climate change. Many people have heard of the climate warming up. Some people have a small understanding of what it means. But what do you think is lacking in the understanding of this issue?
THUNBERG: I think pretty much everything. Because, I mean, we know that something is wrong, that the planet is warming because of increased greenhouse gas emissions, and that might lead to that the ice caps will melt, and the global temperature will rise, and there will be more extreme weather events, and so on. But they- they don't understand how severe this crisis actually is. And it is because they have not been informed. I mean, we are right now in the beginning of the sixth mass extinction and people don't know these things.
NOAH: What do you think people could do and what do you think governments should be doing?
THUNBERG: I think people should do everything. But right now, if I could choose one thing everyone would do, it would be to inform yourself and to try to understand the situation, and try to push for a political movement that doesn't exist. Because the politics needed to fix this, doesn't exist today. So I think what we should do as individuals is to use the power of democracy to make our voices heard, and to make sure that people in power actually cannot continue to ignore this.
NOAH: That's powerful. Wow. Do you- do you feel a difference in the conversation traveling from Sweden to America? Is there a different feeling around climate change?
THUNBERG: I would say yes, because here it's-it feels like it is being discussed as something you, whether you believe in or not believe in. And where I come from, where I come from, it's more like it's a fact.
NOAH: So then I have to ask you this: you sailed from Europe to New York City. New York City is quite an assault on the senses. When you come from anywhere else. What is the biggest thing that has stuck out to you in New York City?
THUNBERG: I mean, just everything. All the impressions, everything is so much, so big, so loud. And people talk so loud here as well. And because when you were on that boat-when I was on that boat, there is nothing. There's just the ocean. And, of course, the sounds of the waves crashing, but that's it. No smells. Apart from sweat.
NOAH: Right.
THUNBERG: So, I remember the first thing I noticed when I- when we came into the harbor, was I woke up, and suddenly I smelled something. And of course it was pollution. But it's still something. And that's- and that was- it was indescribable. To go from this extreme environment, you're disconnected from everything and everyone. You only have yourself and the ocean and the boat, of course- to New York.
NOAH: That is an accurate and brilliant description of New York. It is indescribable, and it smells. I think that is fantastic. I'm excited for your journey. I can't wait to see what else you're going to do. Thank you for making time for us.
