Greta Thunberg at German climate rally: no party is doing enough

Fridays for Future activists turn out two days before polling day

Swedish environmental activist and Fridays for Future founder Greta Thunberg attends a protest in Berlin, Germany. Reuters

Young activists march through Westminster in UK capital London during a global 'climate strike' demonstration, part of the global Fridays for Future movement. AP Photo

Greta Thunberg speaks to demonstrators at a Fridays for Future global climate strike in front of the Chancellery in Berlin. AFP

A young protester take part in a Fridays for Future climate protest in Glasgow, Scotland. Fridays for Future planned 1,400 events in 80 countries. Getty Images

A protester lets off a flare during a Fridays for Future demonstration in Vienna, Austria. EPA

Young people attend a Fridays for Future global climate action day in Prague, Czech Republic. EPA

Former British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn addresses activists at a climate strike demonstration in Parliament Square in London. AP Photo

Fridays for Future protesters, including founder Greta Thunberg, march through Berlin. AFP

Young environmental activists take part in a demonstration in Warsaw, Poland. The banner reads 'Hand in hand'. Reuters

Black smoke billows from a mock gas pipe as young people stage an environmental protest in Milan, Italy. AP Photo

Greta Thunberg led a huge show of strength for German climate activists on Friday but said none of the parties in Sunday’s election had adequate plans to tackle global warming.

The Swedish activist spoke to a crowd outside the German parliament building in Berlin, one of 470 cities where rallies were planned less than 48 hours before polls open.

Although many climate protesters are Green voters, this was not a rally for the party. Ms Thunberg, 18, did not give an endorsement.

“It is clearer than ever that no political party is doing close to enough,” she told her fellow Fridays for Future activists.

“Not even their proposed commitments are close to being in line with what would be needed to fulfil the Paris Agreement.

“Yes, we must vote, you most vote. But remember that only voting will not be enough. We must keep going into the streets and we must keep demanding our leaders to take real climate action.”

She said climate issues had not been taken seriously enough despite devastating summer floods that killed nearly 200 people.

Germany is the EU's richest country and its largest emitter of carbon dioxide – making it “objectively one of the biggest climate villains”, Ms Thunberg said. Emissions have fallen by about 41 per cent since reunification in 1990.

The three candidates for the chancellorship all talk about protecting the climate but disagree on how to achieve this.

Activists said there were 80,000 protesters in Hamburg and tens of thousands more in Berlin. “We’re flooding the government district before the sea level does,” they said.

Olaf Scholz, the Social Democrat candidate, tried to win over activists on Friday by praising their commitment to the cause.

“They have helped to ensure that climate change is at the top of the agenda,” he said. “It is right that they are on strike today.”

But activists turned down his olive branch, reminding voters that Mr Scholz is part of the current government as finance minister.

“Not to wreck the pleasant atmosphere – but we’re holding a strike against YOUR government, Olaf,” they responded on Twitter.