Greta Thunberg has a fan in Arnold Schwarzenegger, who offered to let the 16-year-old climate activist borrow his electric car as she makes her way from the United Nations to Canada for the latest climate strike in Montreal. 

Her campaign has grown from a lone protest outside the Swedish parliament in 2018 to a carbon-free, transatlantic sailing mission that brought her to New York and the United Nations.  Her efforts have galvanised thousands of schoolchildren to participate in demonstrations this September, urging global powers to combat climate change. 

Last year, the former California governor and star of The Terminator wrote on Twitter that he was inspired by Greta’s campaign and loves “seeing someone who doesn’t just complain but gets out and does something about it”. 

Schwarzenegger said he was “starstruck” when they met in person at a conference in Austria in May.

On an upcoming appearance on Swedish talk show Skavlan, Greta said “one of the funniest offers I’ve received is that Arnold Schwarzenegger has offered me to lend his electric car if I want to”, according to a translation by Newsweek. 

Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Show all 12 1 /12 Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures In the protest that started a movement, Greta skips school to sit outside of the Swedish parliament in Stockholm in order to raise awareness of climate change on 28 August 2018 Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos on 25 January AFP/Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta stages a protest at the World Economic Forum in Davos on 25 January Reuters Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta speaks at the House of Commons in London on 23 April PA Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta addresses to the occupation at Marble Arch in London on 21 April AFP/Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta meets the pope on a visit to Rome Reuters Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta speaks at the senate in Rome on 18 April Reuters Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta addresses a debate of the EU Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 16 April AFP/Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta receives the Special Climate Protection Award at the German Film and Television awards in Berlin on 30 March AFP/Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta attends a children's climate protest in Berlin on 29 March AFP/Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta addresses a children's climate protest on 1 March in Hamburg Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta attends a meeting for the Civil Society For rEUnaissance at the EU Charlemagne Building in Brussels on 21 February AFP/Getty

The show has followed her to New York, where she delivered an impassioned speech to the United Nations on Monday, shaming global powers for their inaction in the face of a growing climate crisis. 

She told delegates: “You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words.  And yet I’m one of the lucky ones.  People are suffering.  People are dying.  Entire ecosystems are collapsing.  We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth.  How dare you.” 

On Twitter, President Donald Trump appeared to mock her speech, which she delivered through tears, by saying: “She seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future.” 

She told Skavlan that she knew Mr Trump was likely so say something about her speech, but his commentary “doesn’t make any difference, in a way”.  She also changed her Twitter bio: “A very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future.”