Mnuchin tells Greta Thunberg to study economics before preaching

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin attacked teen activist Greta Thunberg and said she should study economics at college before lecturing the US.

Speaking at a press briefing at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mnuchin, quipped: “Is she the chief economist or who is she? I’m confused,” before adding this was “a joke. That was funny.”

Mnuchin argued that the 17-year-old should study economics at university before “coming back and explain that to us”.

Thunberg, alongside 20 other young climate activists, called on all of those attending the forum to stop the “madness” of ongoing investments in fossil fuel exploration and extraction and “completely divest” from fossil fuels.

One of the stated aims of the 2020 WEF was to help governments and companies to make progress towards the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The day before, Trump had also taken aim at Thunberg, saying: “To embrace the possibilities of tomorrow, we must reject the perennial prophets of doom.”

The young activist had delivered a speech at the start of the WEF in which she said: “I’ve been warned that telling people to panic about the climate crisis is a very dangerous thing to do. But don’t worry, it’s fine. Trust me, I’ve done this before and I can assure you it doesn’t lead to anything.”

The world “in case you hadn’t noticed, is currently on fire,” she added.