An Italian politician took the opportunity to offer advice to 17-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg during a high-profile appearance at the European Union.

Member of the European Parliament Pietro Fiocchi told Thunberg, who was in the room that her "childhood was as precious as the climate," and she should consider returning to school during a meeting of the Environment Council at the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday.

"I would like to give an advice as a father gives an advice to a daughter — go back to school and go back to a normal life," Fiocchi said. "Your childhood is as precious as the climate, and if you don't do something about it, you will lose it forever."

Fiocchi's comments drew audible gasps and spattered applause on a day in which Thunberg sat front-and-center to witness the passing of a monumental new climate proposal.

The new "climate law" establishes a target for all 27 EU nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. Fiocchi said he had "serious reservations" about the legal precedent of such an agreement, claiming European environmental efforts would be pointless without a global framework for climate legislation.

Fiocchi took a moment to thank Thunberg for her "important role" in raising awareness on global climate change before suggesting she spend more time on her studies.