Environmentalism

Controversial reactions around the world following a speech by 16-year-old Greta Thunberg to the UN.

The eco-activist delivered an extremely emotional speech at the forum, accusing world leaders of being inactive against climate change and damaging the future of young people.

"It's evident that environmental issues resonate with society and political parties are forced to address them," said Radek Kubala, a campaign coordinator for Greenpeace Slovakia.

To see the pace of change, consider two recent events.

Millions of children across the world carried out the largest global climate protests in history on Sept. 20, demanding adults act now to stop the environmental disaster.

Spanish actor and environmental activist Javier Bardem said Aug. 19 "we are all villains" for playing "deaf and blind" and not caring about the world's oceans, which are under more pressure than at any time in history.

Protests have been organised in recent days by activists in Tirana, Belgrade and Podgorica against the damage done to the environment by the building of hydro-power plants.

They were staged under the umbrella name Action Weeks for Balkan Rivers, a joint project by various environmental NGOs, with the slogan "Our rivers - no damage!"

Today, digitalization is one of the most influential global megatrends. It has radically and fundamentally changed the foundation of all activities in our society, and will continue to do so in ways that we cannot possibly predict.

Some 30 global companies have set up an alliance to create "sustainable solutions" to the plastic waste problem, planning to invest $1 billion in a newly launched organization.

The Hellenic Union of Industrial Consumers of Energy (UNICEN) denounced on Monday upcoming power rate increases, describing them as a plan to undermine Greece's industry and the economy's recovery effort.

Several Greek island municipalities are in the process of drafting plans to promote sustainable transport and tackle the effects of a surge in the population from summer visitors.

(CNN)An Icelandic commercial whaling company has reportedly killed a blue whale, an endangered species and the largest animal known in existence, prompting outrage from conservationists.