Campaigners fighting expansion plans at Bristol Airport have welcomed news climate change activist Greta Thunberg is to visit the city - just days after she shared a tweet supporting their campaign.
The world renowned teenage climate change activist announced on Twitter earlier today she will be arriving in the city on Friday to join a schools strike at College Green by the UKStudentClimateNetwork (BristolYS4C).
Greta, 17, said in her tweet she said: “Heading for UK! This Friday the 28th.
“I’m looking forward to joining the school strike in Bristol!"
This is not the first time Greta has shown an interest in the climate emergency facing Bristol.
Her arrival in the city comes days after she gave her support Stop Bristol Airport Expansion campaign.
The Swedish campaigner, named Time magazine’s person of the year 2019, shared a tweet by Bristol environmental scientist and journalist Alex Morss to her four million plus followers after the airport’s controversial expansion plans were rejected by North Somerset Council’s planning committee.
Professor John Adams of the Stop Bristol Airport Expansion campaign said: “Greta is aware of the campaign to stop Bristol Airport’s planned expansion.
“Last week, she shared a tweet celebrating North Somerset Council’s planning committee’s decision to reject the airport’s plans.
"Having the most influential climate activist in the world coming to Bristol is fantastic news for all those working so hard to protect the environment and drive down carbon emissions!
"Greta Thunberg will give a huge boost to campaigners, she’s an inspiration to everyone, of all ages and proof of what can be achieved, even in the face of huge corporate pressure."
The strike on Friday will be the 10th held in Bristol by the campaigners as part of nationwide action by the UKStudentClimateNetwork.
The strikes were inspired by the actions of Greta who founded the school strike movement after sitting in solitude outside of the Swedish parliament in 2018.
Since then millions of students across the world have been walking out of lessons monthly to protest government inaction on pressing climate matters.
Thousands of people are expected to join Friday’s strike.
