Greta Thunberg takes aim at global trade emissions in Suez Canal meme

Climate activist jumps aboard container ship memes

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is pictured during a “Fridays for Future” protest in front of the Swedish Parliament Riksdagen (AFP via Getty Images)

Greta Thunberg has used a Suez Canal meme to take a swipe at the ‘hidden’ global trade emissions from outsourced factories.

The climate activist has jumped aboard the trend of social media memes about the Ever Given, which caused major disruption to global trade after becoming lodged diagonally in Egypt’s historic waterway.

“And in case anyone’s worried about emissions from Evergreen ships like these, carrying our stuff from outsourced factories, don’t be,” she wrote in a tongue-in-cheek tweet.

“Emissions from intl aviation and shipping are excluded from our statistics. So in theory, they don’t exist. It feels better that way, doesn’t it?”

The cartoonish image of a single digger’s attempt to shift the 220,940 tonne container vessel was likened by Thunberg to the ‘Green Recovery’, ‘Build Back Better’ and ‘Net Zero Carbon emissions’ plans that attempt to tackle the climate and ecological crises.

Read more

• Suez Canal ship: Ever Given container vessel ‘refloated’ in major breakthrough
• Suez Canal ship is blocking $9.6bn of goods per day and could take weeks to move
• ‘Sitting ducks’: How the Suez Canal calamity could get even worse

While many major companies calculate their impact on the environment, emissions from outsourced suppliers and associated shipping are often excluded.

“Thank goodness for you, Greta. I am twice your age and you teach me so much,” one Twitter user responded.

The Suez Canal meme is the latest in a long list of timely takedowns that have made Thunberg popular online, with Donald Trump being a frequent target of her ridicule before his account was removed by Twitter earlier this year.

The Suez Canal blockage has given rise to much economic anxiety since it became jammed a week ago, closing a vital trade route between China, South Asia and Europe.

The ensuing supply chain logjam is estimated to have been delaying around £7bn worth of goods each day.