US Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin Thursday advised Swedish climate activist Greta Tonberg during the Davos Forum that she study economics before calling for a halt to investment in fossil fuels, prompting the young woman to reply, saying "it is not necessary to obtain a college degree" to understand climate change.
In response to a question about the 17-year-old Tonberg's request to immediately stop investing in fossil fuels, Mnuchin said, "She can come back and explain that to us" after "she goes and studies economics at the university."
In response, the Swedish young woman wrote on Twitter that a year she had left her studies expires in August and that in any case, "it is not necessary to obtain a university degree in economics" to conclude that efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions are not sufficient.
The administration of US President Donald Trump and Tonberg has been facing the forum since Tuesday at the forum, but indirectly as the organizers were keen to avoid any confrontation between the two parties.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump strongly attacked what he described as a "harbinger" and those anticipating a climate catastrophe as Tonburg sat among his listeners.
Before leaving Davos, Trump said he liked to meet and speak to the activist.
Tonberg reiterated her climate warnings and said during her speech that it was time to feel "panicked."
On Tuesday, it called for "the immediate cessation of all investments in the exploration and extraction of fossil fuels" and "the immediate cessation of all forms of support for fossil fuels (...) not in 2050, 2030 or even 2021 (...) but now".