Oct 8, 2019

Kim Kardashian wants to help Greta Thunberg's social media presence

Greta Thunberg and Kim Kardashian. Photos: Getty Images

Kim Kardashian told Reuters Tuesday that she'd like to help teen climate activist Greta Thunberg's parents manage the 16-year-old's social media presence because "speaking on a big platform invites a lot of different opinions and personalities."

Why it matters: The reality TV star has proven herself to be an effective political navigator in the Trump administration, helping to free over a dozen inmates in 2019 and bringing rapper A$AP Rocky's detention in Sweden to President Trump's attention. Thunberg has more than 10 million followers between her Instagram and Twitter accounts while Kardashian has nearly 150 million on Instagram alone.

What she's saying: Kardashian said in the interview that she'd love an opportunity to meet with Thunberg, adding that she believes "climate change is a serious problem."

"[Thunberg] is such an amazing young girl, and so brave and courageous to stand up to these grown-ups that can be very scary and for her to be so open and honest is exactly what we need."

Worth noting: Thunberg hasn't exactly had a problem making her voice heard against "different opinions and personalities," telling a UN climate summit in New York last month, "You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words."

She also helped to spawn protests featuring millions of people in hundreds of locations around the globe.
That action translated into the most online conversation about climate change in 2019, according to an Axios-NewsWhip analysis of social media data.

Go deeper: Greta Thunberg addresses climate deniers' attacks and Trump's tweet

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Jacob Knutson

Greta Thunberg declines Nordic Council environmental award

Photo: Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg refused a $52,000 environmental prize from the Nordic Council on Tuesday, saying the offer was a "huge honor" but that "the climate movement does not need any more awards."

"The Nordic countries have a great reputation around the world when it comes to climate and environmental issues. There is no lack of bragging about this. There is no lack of beautiful words. But when it comes to our actual emissions and our ecological footprints per capita ... then it’s a whole other story."

Go deeperOct 30, 2019

Ursula Perano

Madrid to host UN climate meeting

Photo: GlowImages/Getty Images

The United Nations confirmed that Madrid will host next month's climate talks after Chile canceled last minute due to national protests over economic instability, according to the AP.

The big picture: The talks are set for Dec. 2–13. The original host, Brazil, dropped out after the election of President Jair Bolsonaro. Climate activist Greta Thunberg tweeted Friday after the meeting relocation was confirmed, "It turns out I've traveled half around the world, the wrong way." The Swedish teenager refuses to fly because of the carbon footprint of air transport and has requested assistance to attend the UN summit.

Go deeper: What swing voters think of climate change

Keep ReadingUpdated Nov 1, 2019

Amy Harder

Not a hoax or an emergency: What swing voters think of climate change

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Swing voters in three of America’s top battleground states say climate change is a concern, but not an urgent crisis.

The big picture: The results of focus groups in Ohio, Minnesota and Wisconsin suggest that some of America’s swing voters have views on climate change that are in between Democratic presidential candidates, who think it’s a crisis, and President Trump, who dismisses it altogether.

Go deeperOct 21, 2019