GRETA Thunberg has apologised for calling for world leaders to be put "against the wall" in an eco rant.

The teenage climate activist made the comment in a speech on Friday, but later said she wasn't encouraging violence and that in her native Swedish, it means to hold someone to account.

4 Greta Thunberg has apologised after calling for world leaders to be put 'against the wall' Credit: Getty - Contributor

... improvise speeches in a second language.

But of course I apologise if anyone misunderstood this. I can not enough express the fact that I - as well as the entire school strike movement- are against any possible form of violence. It goes without saying but I say it anyway. — Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 14, 2019

The 16-year-old shot to prominence in August 2018 after she began protesting outside the Swedish parliament calling for more urgent action on climate change.

The demonstrations sparked a global youth movement, and Thunberg now speaks at summits and rallies around the world.

Addressing a crowd of young activists in the Italian city of Turin, Thunberg said world leaders were neglecting the need to take action on climate change.

“We have to make sure that they cannot do that,” she said.

“We will make sure they, that we put them against the wall, and that they will have to do their job and to protect our futures.”

In English, the phrase "to put someone against the wall" is used to refer to an execution by firing squad.

SPEAKING SWENGLISH

Tweeting on Saturday, Thunberg wrote: "Yesterday I said we must hold our leaders accountable and unfortunately said 'put them against the wall'.

"That’s Swenglish: 'att ställa någon mot väggen' (to put someone against the wall) means to hold someone accountable.

"That’s what happens when you improvise speeches in a second language.

"But of course I apologise if anyone misunderstood this.

"I can not enough express the fact that I - as well as the entire school strike movement- are against any possible form of violence.

"It goes without saying but I say it anyway."

Thunberg was this week named as Time magazine's Person of the Year, an annual title given to person or group that has done most to influence the events of the year.

Previous winners have included Mark Zuckerberg, Winston Churchill, and 13 US presidents.

Time editor Edward Felsenthal said Thunberg had won the award for "sounding the alarm about humanity’s predatory relationship with the only home we have".

Responding to the announcement, President Trump wrote on twitter: "So ridiculous.

"Greta must work on her Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Greta, Chill!"

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Thunberg subsequently changed her twitter bio to read: "A teenager working on her anger management problem.

"Currently chilling and watching a good old fashioned movie with a friend."

4 The climate activist was speaking at a rally in Turin, Italy when she made the comment Credit: Getty - Contributor

4 Thunberg shot to prominence in 2018 after she began protesting outside the Swedish parliament Credit: EPA

4 Thunberg was named as Time magazine's Person of the Year for 2019 Credit: TIME

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