Thunberg defiant after being fined for disobeying police during climate protest

Climate activist Greta Thunberg waits for a hearing in a court in Malmo, Sweden (Pavel Golovkin/AP)

A Swedish court has fined climate activist Greta Thunberg for disobeying police during an environmental protest at an oil facility last month.

Ms Thunberg, 20, admitted to the facts but denied guilt, saying the fight against the fossil fuel industry was a form of self-defence due to the existential and global threat of the climate crisis.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg enters a court before a hearing in Malmo, Sweden (Pavel Golovkin/AP)

“We cannot save the world by playing by the rules,” she told journalists after hearing the verdict, vowing she would “definitely not” back down.

The court rejected her argument and fined her 2,500 kronor (£187).

Charges were brought against Ms Thunberg and several other youth activists from the Reclaim the Future movement for refusing a police order to disperse after blocking road access to an oil terminal in the southern Swedish city of Malmo on June 19.

“If the court sees our actions of self-defence as a crime, that’s how it is,” said Irma Kjellstrom, a spokesperson for Reclaim the Future who was also present at the June protest.

Climate activists Greta Thunberg, right, Elvin Landaeus Csizmadia, centre, and Irma Kjellstrom, speak to the media after the court hearing (Pavel Golovkin/AP)

She added that activists “have to be exactly where the harm is being done”.

The sentencing appeared to have little effect on the youths’ determination – just a few hours later, Ms Thunberg and Reclaim the Future activists returned to the oil terminal to stage another roadblock.