Climate activist Greta Thunberg has canceled her appearance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in protest against its ties to the fossil fuel industry. Originally scheduled to speak on
13th August, Thunberg decided not to participate as the festival receives sponsorship from the Baillie Gifford investment firm, which she alleges heavily invests in the fossil fuel sector.
Accusing the fossil fuel industry of "greenwashing" by sponsoring cultural events, Thunberg expressed her unwillingness to be associated with such practices. According to her, these sponsorships enable the industry to maintain a social license to continue its operations, which she finds unacceptable.
Baillie Gifford, a long-term sponsor of the book festival for 19 years, responded by stating that only 2% of its clients' investments were in companies related to fossil fuels, much lower than the market average of 11%. They highlighted that many of these companies are transitioning to cleaner energy solutions, with 5% of their clients' money invested in companies solely focused on developing clean energy solutions.
Thunberg was expected to participate in an event titled "It's Not Too Late To Change The World" at the Edinburgh Playhouse, where she would discuss her activism and her book, "The Climate Book." This appearance would have marked her first public event in Scotland since her visit during the COP26 summit in 2021.
Nick Barley, the book festival's director, supported Thunberg's stance on principle but stressed that the festival also needed to adhere to its own principles. He acknowledged that Baillie Gifford's support had helped provide a platform for crucial discussions on climate emergencies. Barley expressed regret for those who purchased tickets for Thunberg's event, assuring them full refunds. He also apologized to the young climate campaigners who were invited due to their efforts in driving change in Scotland.
Greta Thunberg gained global attention for her climate activism, beginning with her solitary protests outside Sweden's parliament in 2018 when she was just 15 years old. Her actions sparked widespread school strikes across Europe, the US, and Australia. She continues to challenge world leaders on their inaction toward the climate crisis, often participating in protests and demonstrations worldwide. Photo by Anders Hellberg, Wikimedia commons.