Responding to a news report on China’s annual emissions, climate activist Greta Thunberg tweeted on May 7 that although China was categorized as a developing nation, it was no excuse for “ruining future and present living conditions.” She said that the world cannot solve the climate crisis unless China “drastically changes course.” [https://twitter.com/GretaThunberg/status/1390676195352719364]

These few lines were enough to send Chinese netizens into a frenzy. The mocking started on Chinese social media with her being called “double-standard, selective environmentalist” and “puppet of Western politicians.”

The netizens argued that she was not correct about the Chinese emissions. According to some experts, Chinese per capita emissions in China are lower than those in the developed world.

Well-known Chinese cartoonist Wuheqilin commented on Weibo, a Chinese alternative to Twitter that Thunberg was being selective and how she had “turned a blind eye” to Japan’s decision to dump nuclear wastewater while accusing China of environmental issues.

This is not the first time that Thunberg has been mocked by Chinese netizens. In April, fake regarding her that she had urged Chinese people to abandon traditional chopsticks and thus save trees and forests did the rounds. Many in China took to social media to condemn her purported remarks. But many fact-checkers said that it was fake news. [https://factcheck.afp.com/greta-thunberg-did-not-urge-chinese-people-stop-using-chopsticks-save-trees-0] Late last year, Thunberg had criticized China’s treatment of climate activist Ou Hongyi, who was detained after a silent protest in Shanghai.

Even opinion writers for government-linked news websites also took on Thunberg. For instance, writing in Global Times, Lu Xue wrote, “She is short of sufficient academic knowledge study and lack of sound self-judgment capability. Girl like her is prone to be affected or even manipulated by some political forces.” (sic)

The Chinese media have accused the Western media of “hyping” China’s impact on climate change and trying to influence “opinion makers”.

Read more:

A report on mocking of Thunberg:
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202105/1222988.shtml

Did Greta Thunberg Urge Chinese People To Stop Using Chopsticks?
https://www.boomlive.in/world/fake-news-greta-thunberg-chinese-people-chopsticks-save-trees-12919

Thunberg speaks out after the arrest of Chinese activist Ou Hongyi:
https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/news/environment/article/3103603/climate-change-advocate-greta-thunberg-speaks-out