Climate change: Michael Gove promises tougher action after Greta Thunberg speech

Environment secretary says teen activist made him feel ‘sense of guilt’ for inaction of older generations

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Michael Gove has pledged tougher action on climate change after confessing that a speech by a teenage environmentalist had made him feel “a sense of responsibility and guilt” over his generation’s muted response to the dangers facing the planet.

In a speech in Westminster, Greta Thunberg, 16, the Swedish schoolgirl activist who has inspired protests across the world, said the UK government’s support for “new exploitation of fossil fuels”, such as the shale gas fracking industry, the expansion of North Sea oil and gas fields and the expansion of airports, is “beyond absurd”.

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