Born in Stockholm, Thunberg is the daughter of an opera singer and an actor.

She first heard about climate change when she was about eight years old, and could not understand why so little was being done about it, according to Thunberg.

Three years later, she became depressed, lethargic, and stopped talking, as well as eating, and eventually was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, obsessive–compulsive disorder, and selective mutism.

She does not view her Asperger's as an illness and has instead called it her "superpower".

Thunberg has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards. She was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in May this year, though the prize went to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in the end.

Later in July, she was awarded the Geddes Environment Medal by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, which automatically granted her its Honorary Fellowship.