According to the Guardian, Thunberg’s namesake is a tiny species of beetle first found in Kenya in 1965. Scientists at London’s Natural History Museum have decided to bestow upon this little creature the name Nelloptodes gretae, specifically in honor of Thunberg.
“I chose this name as I am immensely impressed with the work of this young campaigner and wanted to acknowledge her outstanding contribution in raising awareness of environmental issues,” Dr. Michael Darby, a researcher at the Natural History Museum, told the Guardian.
Gretae the beetle is less than one millimeter long and has no wings or eyes, the latter of which could serve as a metaphor for the aforementioned global leaders who refuse to accept the need for immediate climate action as we on Earth undergo a mass extinction event. Or maybe that’s just me! What do I know! I’m just another person on this planet who needs breathable air and drinkable water!