<p>Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg launched a new broadside Thursday against "role-playing" by political and economic leaders over the climate crisis, accusing them of using it as a business opportunity.</p>.<p>Appearing via video-link at the Austrian World Summit on climate policy hosted by former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, she described the reaction of those in power to the groundswell of climate activism.</p>.<p>"Eventually the public pressure was too much. So you started to act," Thunberg said.</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/canada-us-witness-extreme-temperatures-what-is-a-heat-dome-1003581.html" target="_blank">Canada, US witness extreme temperatures: What is a heat dome? </a></strong></p>.<p>"But acting as in role-playing. Playing politics, playing with words, playing with our future."</p>.<p>Thunberg, 18, derided wealthy nations' climate commitments as "vastly insufficient" in the face of "more and more extreme weather events... raging all around us".</p>.<p>This week a heat wave in western Canada and the north-western United States smashed temperature records and has been linked to dozens of excess deaths.</p>.<p>Thunberg said net zero emissions targets announced by major economies "could be a great start, if they weren't full of gaps and loopholes" such as "leaving out emissions from imported goods, international aviation and shipping".</p>.<p>In addition they rely on "baseline manipulation" and the use of unproven technology, according to the activist, who rose to prominence by mounting a series of school strikes for the climate which inspired a global movement.</p>.<p>"The climate crisis is today -- at best -- being treated only as a business opportunity to create green new jobs, new green businesses and technologies," she said.</p>.<p>The summit, launched five years ago by Schwarzenegger, aims to highlight "concrete solutions and measures from global decision-makers" in response to the challenge of climate change.</p>.<p>In his opening message,Schwarzenegger stressed the need for "encouragement, not just threat and despair".</p>.<p>Making a tongue-in-cheek reference to his most famous role, he added: "We can terminate pollution, let's get our message together and let's work together."</p>.<p>Among those participating in the event are Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans -- who is leading the Commission's work on its European Green Deal -- and high-ranking representatives from multinational giants Ford and Apple.</p>.<p>Thunberg's address was cut short for technical reasons.</p>
<p>Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg launched a new broadside Thursday against "role-playing" by political and economic leaders over the climate crisis, accusing them of using it as a business opportunity.</p>.<p>Appearing via video-link at the Austrian World Summit on climate policy hosted by former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, she described the reaction of those in power to the groundswell of climate activism.</p>.<p>"Eventually the public pressure was too much. So you started to act," Thunberg said.</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/canada-us-witness-extreme-temperatures-what-is-a-heat-dome-1003581.html" target="_blank">Canada, US witness extreme temperatures: What is a heat dome? </a></strong></p>.<p>"But acting as in role-playing. Playing politics, playing with words, playing with our future."</p>.<p>Thunberg, 18, derided wealthy nations' climate commitments as "vastly insufficient" in the face of "more and more extreme weather events... raging all around us".</p>.<p>This week a heat wave in western Canada and the north-western United States smashed temperature records and has been linked to dozens of excess deaths.</p>.<p>Thunberg said net zero emissions targets announced by major economies "could be a great start, if they weren't full of gaps and loopholes" such as "leaving out emissions from imported goods, international aviation and shipping".</p>.<p>In addition they rely on "baseline manipulation" and the use of unproven technology, according to the activist, who rose to prominence by mounting a series of school strikes for the climate which inspired a global movement.</p>.<p>"The climate crisis is today -- at best -- being treated only as a business opportunity to create green new jobs, new green businesses and technologies," she said.</p>.<p>The summit, launched five years ago by Schwarzenegger, aims to highlight "concrete solutions and measures from global decision-makers" in response to the challenge of climate change.</p>.<p>In his opening message,Schwarzenegger stressed the need for "encouragement, not just threat and despair".</p>.<p>Making a tongue-in-cheek reference to his most famous role, he added: "We can terminate pollution, let's get our message together and let's work together."</p>.<p>Among those participating in the event are Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans -- who is leading the Commission's work on its European Green Deal -- and high-ranking representatives from multinational giants Ford and Apple.</p>.<p>Thunberg's address was cut short for technical reasons.</p>