Members of Congress are hailing Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg as a "superpower" for her work to spark a worldwide, youth-driven push to fight climate change.
But Thunberg is not impressed.
At a Senate forum Tuesday, the 16-year-old told lawmakers to "save your praise," saying she and other youth activists "don't want it," especially if officials intend talk about climate change "without doing anything about it."
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, center, who has called on world leaders to step up their efforts against global warming, stands with indigenous people of the Americas and others, during remarks by Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., chairman of the Senate Climate Change Task Force, at a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoJ. Scott Applewhite)
Thunberg and other activists swarmed the Capitol ahead of a global climate strike set for Friday. They are calling for immediate action from the world's governments to halt global warming, reduce fossil fuel consumption and avert environmental catastrophe.
Thunberg told senators, "I know you're trying, but just not hard enough."
Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey said Thunberg brings "moral clarity" to the fight against climate change.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, 16, left, walks with Amnesty International Secretary General Kumi Naidoo, as she accepts the Ambassador of Conscience Award from the organization, during an event at George Washington University, Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, in Washington. The award is the organization's highest honor for human rights work. (AP PhotoJacquelyn Martin)