Neo-Aristotelian Analysis of Greta Thunberg’s Speech at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit

Context: 

Rhetor: Greta Thunberg is a young Swedish climate activist. At the time of her speech at the UN Climate Action Summit, she was only sixteen. Thunberg is known for being a passionate and emotional speaker. She targets her criticism and activism toward world leaders since she feels they have inadequately combatted the climate crisis. 

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Occasion: Greta Thunberg spoke at the UN Climate Action Summit, an event aimed at creating climate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to prevent the global temperature from rising; various countries' representatives would present possible steps to reduce emissions (Rosane, 2019). During that time in 2019, Thunberg was participating in her second climate strike, which shared four million participants globally (Rosane, 2019). Thus, her speech addresses the inaction of world leaders who fail their delegates that support strategies to overcome the climate crisis.

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Audience: The UN Climate Action Summit was attended by influential world leaders older than Thunberg. The audience has the agenda of climate change and global warming at the forefront of their minds (Rosane, 2019). It was a very diverse audience with representatives from hundreds of countries. 

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Cannons: 

Invention: Thunberg was asked about her activism and spoke directly to the audience, almost off the cuff. She seemed to have notes but did not rely on them. Thunberg referred to data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that explained the effects of rising global temperatures. She discussed a 50% survival rate for the climate crisis that older generations expected younger generations to combat and endure since they most likely will not be present to experience the long-term effects of global climate change. Thunberg is incredibly critical of the audience's (UN leaders) inaction and lack of urgency to save the planet. 

• Ethos: Thunberg did an interesting tactic of asserting her credibility by explaining that she did not have the same obligation or responsibility to address climate change as the world leaders attending the UN summit. It makes her more credible as a speaker because it illustrates that she is doing more for the climate change movement than those in power. 

• Logos: She employed data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Data to illustrate the destructive effects of climate change on the human population. 

• Pathos: "Stole my childhood"--Thunberg started her speech with a powerful quote that appeals to the emotional reason of the audience. She can convey the hardship of being a climate activist so young and how her job is to enjoy the planet, not save it. 

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Organization: Thunberg began with the emotional sentiments of her childhood destroyed due to working as an activist when it is the responsibility of world leaders. She then moves more outwardly by describing the long-term effects of the climate crisis on humanity. Finally, she promised to hold the world leader responsible for the inability to solve climate change. 

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Style/Language: Thunberg is very passionate and holds a forceful tone that reflects how serious and critical she is about climate change and her audience of world leaders. She maintained an average speaking volume. She is blunt and direct throughout the speech. She also asserted her opposition and disdain for the leadership failing younger generations. Thunberg does not forgive world leaders for their inaction. Instead, she holds them accountable for destroying the planet. 

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Delivery: She was very focused, and her facial features were neutral throughout her speech. 

• Volume: Thunberg spoke at an average volume. 

• Energy: Thunberg possessed a passionate and urgent presence.

  • Emotional and teary-eyed at how dyer the climate crisis currently is.

• Clarity: She spoke very clearly, her tone was consistent, and she did not stutter or pause for too long. 

• Eye Contact: She addressed and focused on the audience throughout her speech. 

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Effects: 

Reactions at the Moment: Powerful speech made Greta Thunberg a household name (Gajanan, 2019). The video was also shared throughout the internet and media. For instance, the YouTube video received over 5 million views and 79K likes (YouTube no longer provides data on dislikes). Specifically, the UN audience stopped for applause throughout her speech. Climate scientists were also impressed with Thunberg's speech and rallying people to fight climate injustice (Chow, 2019).

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My Opinion on Neo-Aristotelianism: 

• First, the Neo-Aristotelian analysis for Greta Thunberg is a valuable method to study speech since it offers a deep analysis of the exact circumstances of the speech and its effects. 

  • Understanding the implication of the climate crisis under this speech can offer greater insight into how impactful Thunberg's remarks aided the movement. 

• Second, the analysis for this speech would best come from a climate scientist because it is someone who understands the overall effects and goals of combatting the crisis. I could only perform so much analysis since I do not have a background in climate change and global warming. 

• Third, the method helped me understand the context and cannons of the rhetor more than anything else. The success of Thunberg's speech was due to her skills as a climate activist that empowered others. I cannot speak for much of her work's political or environmental success beyond the individual viewer's understanding. 

• Thus, utilizing Neo-Aristotelianism was beneficial to understand the rhetor and speech independently. However, a different method might have been better to understand the scientific framework of her speech and its impact through that lens.