TEENAGE activist Greta Thunberg has criticised the expansion of the North Sea fossil fuel industry while describing the UK's response to climate change as "beyond absurd".
In a speech to MPs, the Swedish 16-year-old, who sparked a global youth-based movement when she began a “climate strike” outside Sweden’s parliament last year, said the continued exploitation of fossil fuels including the expansion of North Sea oil and gas fields was "beyond absurd".
Environment Secretary Michael Gove said "we have not done nearly enough".
The student in a hard-hitting speech to MPs said:“This ongoing irresponsible behaviour will no doubt be remembered in history as one of the greatest failures of humankind.”
Ms Thunberg, who had earlier met the heads of several of the UK’s political parties, also said today’s generation of leaders around the world had not acted fast enough to halt climate change.
“You lied to us. You gave us false hope. You told us that the future was something to look forward to,” she said. “You don’t listen to the science because you are only interested in solutions that will enable you to carry on like before," she said.
And referring to the North Sea she said: "The fact that we are speaking of 'lowering' instead of 'stopping' emissions is perhaps the greatest force behind the continuing business as usual.
"The UK’s active current support of new exploitation of fossil fuels – for example, the UK shale gas fracking industry, the expansion of its North Sea oil and gas fields, the expansion of airports as well as the planning permission for a brand new coal mine – is beyond absurd.
"This ongoing irresponsible behaviour will no doubt be remembered in history as one of the greatest failures of humankind."
The teenager sparked an international youth movement after she staged a School Strike for Climate in front of the Swedish Parliament in August last year.
READ MORE: Teenage climate strikes inspiration Greta Thunberg's hard-hitting speech to MPs in full
Since then she has met Pope Francis and addressed the European Parliament.
Meeting MPs, she described the UK's carbon emissions reduction as the result of "very creative" accounting.
The country's reported 37% reduction in emissions since 1990 was only 10% when aviation, shipping, imports and exports were counted, she said.
She said the UK had a “mind-blowing historical carbon debt”, referring to the nation’s cumulative emissions since the industrial revolution.
Said her generation's future had been "stolen" so that "a small number of people could make unimaginable amounts of money".
She told MPs: "You don't listen to the science because you are only interested in the answers that will allow you to carry on as if nothing has happened."
There was still just about time to stop climate change, she said.
“I’m sure that the moment we start behaving as if we were in an emergency, we can avoid climate and ecological catastrophe. Humans are very adaptable. But the opportunity to do so will not last for long," Ms Thunburg added.
About 1.6 million students are estimated to have skipped school to protest against climate inaction, prompting some criticism over lost education.
But Ms Thunberg said: “I assure you we will go back to school the moment you start listening to science and give us a future. Is that really too much to ask?”
Mr Gove said that although governments have not done enough to tackle climate change, "in the past few years it has become inescapable that we have to act".
He said: "The time to act is now, the challenge could not be clearer - Greta, you have been heard."
Earlier, an empty chair was left for Prime Minister Theresa May as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable and Green Party leader Caroline Lucas met the environmental campaigner for a round-table discussion.
The Westminster leaders of the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru, Ian Blackford and Liz Saville Roberts, were also at the meeting. Mrs May was chairing a cabinet meeting and Downing Street said it had received no official request to attend.
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