Greta Thunberg pulls out of Edinburgh Book Festival appearance after accusing key sponsor of greenwashing

Greta Thunberg pulls out of Edinburgh Book Festival appearance after accusing key sponsor of greenwashing

CNN — Climate activist Greta Thunberg has canceled an appearance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival after accusing one of the festival’s main sponsors of greenwashing.

Thunberg announced her decision to pull out of the event in a statement shared by the festival on Friday, outlining her belief that as a climate activist she cannot attend an event sponsored by investment management firm, Ballie Gifford, due to its connections with the fossil fuel industry.

She was set to speak at the 3,000 seat Playhouse Theatre in Edinburgh on August 13 to discuss her appeal for climate action in an event titled: “Greta Thunberg: It’s Not Too Late to Change the World.”

“I am unfortunately unable to attend the Edinburgh Book Festival. As a climate activist I cannot attend an event which receives sponsorship from Baillie Gifford, who invests heavily in the fossil fuel industry,” Thunberg said.

“Greenwashing efforts by the fossil fuel industry, including sponsorship of cultural events, allow them to keep the social license to continue operating. I cannot and do not want to be associated with events that accept this kind of sponsorship,” her statement continued.

Greenwashing is a practice where marketing and PR language is intentionally misleading and used to convince consumers