Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg addressed a rally in Edmonton this afternoon (October 18).

After a march through downtown organized by Climate Justice Edmonton, a large crowd rallied in front of the Alberta legislature, where the teen spoke to the gathering shortly after 1 p.m.

"It's so incredible to see so many young people and Indigenous leaders gathered here today," Thunberg said. "You are the hope so thank you so much for that."

To that, a man in the crowd shouted "thank you, Greta."

She saluted Indigenous peoples, attracting more applause.

"So today is Friday," she said. "As always, we are on climate strike. Young people all around the globe are today sacrificing their education to bring attention to the climate and ecological emergency."

Thunberg emphasized that young people aren't doing this because they want to or because it's fun or because they have a special interest in the climate or because they want to become politicians when they grow up.

"We are doing this because our future is at stake," she declared. "We are doing this because in this crisis, we will not be bystanders. And we are doing it because we want the people in power to unite behind the science."

Again, she was interrupted with applause.

She mentioned that 42 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents are emitted every year, including through land use.

At current emission levels, she said the carbon budget to keep the average global temperature increase to 1.5 C above the preindustrial level—within a 67-percent chance—will be gone in eight-and-a-half years.

See the entire speech below.