The Grand Tour host Jeremy Clarkson and climate activist Greta Thunberg. (Getty Images)

Jeremy Clarkson, a British broadcaster, columnist, and co-host of The Grand Tour, a popular motoring program on Amazon Prime Video, denounced climate change activist Greta Thunberg, calling her an "idiot" and blaming her for contributing to the loss of interest in cars by young people.

“Everyone I know under 25 isn’t the slightest bit interested in cars," Clarkson told The Sun, and "Greta Thunberg has killed the car show."

“They’re taught at school, before they say ‘Mummy and Daddy’, that cars are evil, and it’s in their heads," said Clarkson.

Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson and James May attend a screening of 'The Grand Tour' season 3 held at The Brewery on January 15, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/WireImage)

While Clarkson said he believes that climate change is "very definitely a thing," he stressed that Thunberg's approach was counter-productive.

“She’s an idiot," he said. "Going round saying we’re all going to die, that’s not going to solve anything, my dear.”





One of Clarkson's Grand Tour co-hosts, Richard Hammond, agreed. “I hate to say it, but I think Jeremy is right," said Hammond.

“Young people don’t care about cars," he added. "How many kids now are growing up with posters of cars on their bedroom wall?”

Clarkson, who writes a column for The Sunday Times and The Sun, wrote a column about Thunberg on Sept. 19, 2019, following her speech at the United Nations where she blamed older citizens for "having stolen my dreams and my childhood."

Greta Thunberg.

Clarkson said, "I’m sorry Ms Thunberg, but if you’re going to lay into my generation, you must accept it when I lay into you and yours. What about the pills you take when you have a headache? What about the clean water that comes out of your tap? What about the food you can buy at any time of the day and night? No 16-year-old was responsible for any of that."

"We gave you mobile phones and laptops and the internet," said Clarkson. "We created the social media you use every day and we run the banks that pay for it all.

"So how dare you stand there and lecture us, you spoilt brat."





He continued, "And yes, you are spoilt because when you told your mum and dad to stop using planes and give up meat, they didn’t behave like sane parents and ignore you. They actually said, 'Yes, dear.' And did."

"What they should have done is point out that life is tragic," he said. "It’s how the world has always worked. And banging your fists on the table won’t change a thing. You’ll learn that when you’ve got a few more years under your belt."