Greta Thunberg: How Asperger’s Became Her ‘Superpower’

Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate activist, is largely known for her influential communication style when calling out world leaders for their inaction on climate change. Over the years, she’s spoken about the urgency of climate action and insights on how individuals, governments, and businesses can contribute to addressing the crisis.

Greta has also been open about something deeply personal to her: her diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome at the age of 11, a condition on the autism spectrum.

“I have Asperger’s, and that means that sometimes I am a little different from the norm”, Greta said in the past on her X account (formerly Twitter), before starting her famous school strike to raise awareness about the importance of taking care of the planet.

“I had no friends, and I didn’t talk to anyone. I would just sit at home with an eating disorder. All of that is gone now since I have found meaning in a world that sometimes seems superficial and meaningless to many people”.

However, Greta also calls being on the spectrum her “superpower”, pointing out that it helps her see things in a way other people may not see. “It is something to be really proud of, to be really different”, Greta said in an interview with Democracy Now!

Over time, she found purpose and focus in the climate movement. Her determination to speak out about climate change, despite the challenges of navigating social situations, has made her a globally recognized figure and a symbol of youth-led activism.

“When I’m really interested in something I get super focused on that and I can spend hours not getting tired of reading about it, and still be interested to learn more about it. That is very common for people on the autism spectrum, that was one of the reasons why I was one of the few who really reacted to the climate crisis… In such a crisis like this we need to think outside the box”, Greta said.

Asperger syndrome is also characterized by difficulties with social interactions, a tendency to focus intensely on specific interests, and sometimes repetitive behaviors or routines. People with Asperger’s often have average to above-average intelligence but may struggle with social cues or interpreting nonverbal communication.